Last week, the New York Times ran an extremely troubling story about Long Term Care Insurance. Apparently, some Long Term Care Insurance companies are using bureacratic tactics to delay payment of claims until the insured dies, or is outright denying them. In depositions conducted on behalf of angry policyholders, Conseco employees described bureaucratic obstacles that prevented payment of claims. Those depositions were sealed in settlement agreements but were obtained by The … [Read more...] about
Texas Comptroller To Lawmakers: End Accenture Contract
Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Texas Comptroller, chastised the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for its $800 million contract with Accenture, a group that administers Medicaid enrollment and other social services. Citing mismanagement, Stayhorn says the contract “must be ended.†According to the Houston Chronicle, Accenture’s call centers experience computer glitches and lost and backlogged applications. Strayhorn, who is running for governor, asked lawmakers to transfer project … [Read more...] about Texas Comptroller To Lawmakers: End Accenture Contract
Agency Vacancies Create Complications
As I blogged last week, Mark McClellan, current Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) administrator, is set to leave his post. The Hill reports that Andrew von Eschenbach, President Bush’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is facing obstacles to his confirmation. Will the same happen when Bush nominates someone to take over McClellen’s post? According to The Hill, former “senior officials†for CMS and the FDA say that agency replacements face a … [Read more...] about Agency Vacancies Create Complications
CMS Chief to Resign
Mark McClellan, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is resigning. McClellen had been CMS chief since March 2004. According to Medical News Today, McClellan is headed to the conservative think tank, American Enterprise Institute. McClellan, born right here in Austin, Texas, oversaw the launch of Medicare's new prescription drug program, Medicare Part D. He is a medical doctor who's served in the federal government since the late 1990s. He is the brother … [Read more...] about CMS Chief to Resign
An Interview With Andy Kessler
Earlier this month, I wrote a post about a new book entitled The End of Medicine : How Silicon Valley (and Naked Mice) Will Reboot Your Doctor written by Andy Kessler. Today, I had the opportunity to interview Andy as my guest while sitting in as a guest host for my friend Mychal Massie on his show, Straight Talk, which plays on Right Talk Radio. John, at Right Talk, graciously allowed me to download the show in order to reproduce it here. I thank John and Right Talk for giving me … [Read more...] about An Interview With Andy Kessler
Proof of Citizenship for Medicaid
In a move that is sure to cause controversy (although it shouldn't), President George Bush plans to implement new standards requiring Medicaid recipients to prove American citizenship in order to receive benefits. Although the Senate and House of Representatives are trying to reach a compromise on the immigration bill, Bush signed the Medicaid citizenship requirements into law back in February. The requirements will take effect on July 1, 2006. From the New York Times (free registration … [Read more...] about Proof of Citizenship for Medicaid
Long Term Care Hospital Units?
Will long term care units in hospitals become a trend? Iowa is considering adding long term care wings to its hospitals that could bring in more federal funding. Such a plan is currently illegal, but the director of the Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals said the agency will rewrite the rules to allow the units. The decision to pursue the project was apparently prompted by a different agency's rejection of a plan to build four long term care hospitals in the state. Do hospitals … [Read more...] about Long Term Care Hospital Units?
Senate Rejects Medical Care Access Protection Act
The American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living issued a statement about the U.S. Senate's rejection of the Medical Care Access Protection Act, a bill that would have implemented health care liability reforms. Long term care providers have had to reduce patients' access to certain services because of the high costs of medical liability insurance caused by expensive litigation. The Medical Care Access Protection Act (PDF) was designed to reform the system by … [Read more...] about Senate Rejects Medical Care Access Protection Act
Medicare Bankrupt By 2018?
According to the trustees who monitor Medicare and Social Security, the trust fund that supports Medicare will be out of money by 2018. The main reason appears to be rising health care costs. (Washington Post) Medicare and Social Security are funded through payroll taxes, so expect those to increase in the near future to compensate for higher costs. The bottom line is that beneficiaries probably will have to pay more out-of-pocket expenses. Before this bad news was reported, a study on … [Read more...] about Medicare Bankrupt By 2018?
Amnesty, Illegal Immigration, and Medicaid
President George W. Bush's amnesty plan for illegal aliens is controversial for many reasons. Some believe it will "reward" criminal behavior, while others believe illegal aliens depress wages. Some lawmakers and their constituents believe granting legal status to aliens would be potentially burdensome to the Medicaid system. From Medical News Today: Under the 1996 welfare law, legal immigrants cannot apply for Medicaid or welfare benefits during their first five years in the U.S., but … [Read more...] about Amnesty, Illegal Immigration, and Medicaid
