Is Medicaid really broke? If not, who is making money where Managed Care is involved? According to this, not the providers. Is this ignored so that attention is focused on allegations of fraud by providers? … [Read more...] about Medicaid and Managed Care–Who Benefits?
Arizona Eliminates SCHIP
Because of budget shortfalls, states are reducing coverage and cutting reimbursement rates for programs like Medicaid. But Arizona became the first state to drop the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) altogether. (Source) Arizona will also reduce Medicaid coverage for childless adults. The state simply doesn't have enough money to operate SCHIP or continue to cover so many adults without children. Arizona's budget shortfall for 2011 is $2.6 billion. "Arizona is navigating … [Read more...] about Arizona Eliminates SCHIP
The Political and Bureaucratic "Class" Thrives While YOU Suffer
Your excellence counts for nothing as they line their own pockets: "Pay for performance? Fuggeddaboutit! Congress keeps its automatic pay increase, and taxes, inflation, deficits, and the national debt all rise. Down Independence Avenue, Health and Human Services (HHS) bureaucrats get automatic pay raises and universal “outstanding” performance ratings. (Footnote: take a laptop with you into HHS headquarters and its serial number is logged in and out by an armed guard. Apparently, so many … [Read more...] about The Political and Bureaucratic "Class" Thrives While YOU Suffer
Texas Governor Ambivalent About Health Care Plan
Governor Rick Perry is straddling the fence on President Barack Obama's health care reform plan. On the one hand, he criticized it, calling the so-called opt out provision for states "classic Washington bait and switch," because citizens would still have to pay for it. On the other hand, Perry said he's unsure whether Texas will reject the plan. "Until we see more clearly what Washington's plan is relative to this," he told the Houston Chronicle, "our options are open." Under Obama's … [Read more...] about Texas Governor Ambivalent About Health Care Plan
SCHIP Expansion in Health Care Reform
President George Bush twice vetoed versions of a bill that would have expanded the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) amid concerns that parents who could afford private insurance would seek coverage under the program, depriving low-income children of coverage. Republicans who voted against the bill also were concerned the bill would expand coverage to adults and illegal aliens. Last February, President Barack Obama issued a memorandum lifting SCHIP restrictions. Among the … [Read more...] about SCHIP Expansion in Health Care Reform
Proposed 2010-11 ICR/MR Rates – comment through 8/7/09
As a result HHSC's delay in issuing the proposed rates, the public commet period has been extended through Friday, August 7, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. Take advantage of this opportunity to have your voice heard by emailing Pam McDonald with HHSC at pam.mcdonald@hhsc.state.tx.us by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2009. • The proposed rates are based upon models developed by Deloitte Touche in 1997 and updated using data from the 2007 ICF/MR cost reports inflated to the 2010-11 biennium. … [Read more...] about Proposed 2010-11 ICR/MR Rates – comment through 8/7/09
2010 Payment Rate Changes
CMS announced that acute care hospitals will see a 2.1 percent payment rate increase as part of an inflation update. Skilled nursing facilities face a Medicare payment reduction of $360 million as part of a $1.050-billion case-mix adjustment decrease and a $690 million market-basket increase. Alan Rosenbloom of the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care said, "The nursing home community rightly fears the $12-$16 billion in cuts are just the tip of the iceberg. As Congress continues to … [Read more...] about 2010 Payment Rate Changes
TxHmL & HCS — Elimination of the Monthly Admin & Operations Fee
As you probably know by now, the admin/op fee of approx. $935 per consumer is set to be eliminated and tied directly to individual service rates. This rule will be republished in this Friday's Texas Register and implemented October (not September) 1, 2009. Today, July 24, 2010, professional rates (RNs, LVNs, OTs, PTs, etc) will be discussed at a public hearing. 3 stages of implementation 1. 9/1/09: Professional service rate changes begin 2. 10/1/09: Remaining rate changes begin … [Read more...] about TxHmL & HCS — Elimination of the Monthly Admin & Operations Fee
Proposed Changes to §335.723—So long flat rates…hello “weighted methodologiesâ€
ATTENTION HCS & TxHmL Providers: CMS has directed HHSC to eliminate the current monthly Administration and Operations Fee (Adm & Op fee) and replace with a methodology that allocates these expenses across all HCS services. How will this directive impact you? It means that the current monthly "admin& op" fee used to reimburse providers for these admin and operations expenses ($938.62 per consumer per month or approximately $11,263 per annum) is being removed and these … [Read more...] about Proposed Changes to §335.723—So long flat rates…hello “weighted methodologiesâ€
Rulings Favor California Providers
California is attempted to solve a budget deficit by cutting programs, and in-home care workers would have received a $2 hourly wage cut beginning July 1. A federal judge blocked the wage cut. In-home care workers in California will maintain their present wage level. (Source) The salary cut would have saved the state $98 million in 2009 and 2010. In other provider news, the Supreme Court ruled that California's Medicaid providers may challenge the state's proposed cuts to provider fees, … [Read more...] about Rulings Favor California Providers