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
Close Call for Medicare and Medicaid
For the time being, Medicare and Medicaid spending won't be cut. Although President George Bush proposed a $65 billion reduction in Medicaid, Medicare, and other mandatory programs, the Senate voted to exclude the provisions. Last week, the House Budget Committee also voted to exclude the cuts. As expected, both political parties are divided on the president's budget. From Medical News Today: The House resolution's entitlement savings are "well shy of what conservatives had sought, but … [Read more...] about Close Call for Medicare and Medicaid
Proposed Increase in Payment Rates for Texas Medicaid Nursing Facilities and Associated Increases in Staffing and Spending Requirements for Facilities Participating in the Enhanced Direct Care Staff Rate
Texas HHSC has posted a letter regarding payment rates. It begins, On February 14, 2006, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) received a letter from House Speaker Tom Craddick and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst authorizing the expenditure of $75 million in General Revenue and $115.7 million in Federal Funds at the Department of Aging and Disability Services for nursing facility services, including rate increases. The letter further stated that rate increases should be … [Read more...] about Proposed Increase in Payment Rates for Texas Medicaid Nursing Facilities and Associated Increases in Staffing and Spending Requirements for Facilities Participating in the Enhanced Direct Care Staff Rate
California’s Plan to Improve Nursing Homes in Jeopardy; New Provider Letter
More states would face cuts in nursing home funding in President Bush's proposed FY 2007 budget. Last week I blogged about the proposed budget's effect on Louisiana. An accounting firm called BDO Seidman and the American Health Care Association analyzed the FY 2007 budget proposal and found that Louisiana would face a $70.2 million cut in nursing home funding. According to the same analysis, California's nursing home funding would be cut by $125 million. From the press release: "The … [Read more...] about California’s Plan to Improve Nursing Homes in Jeopardy; New Provider Letter
Texas Pharmacists Lobby White House
A group of pharmacists in Texas is lobbying the White House, demanding to be reimbursed for giving away prescription drugs to Medicare beneficiaries. From CNNMoney.com: "If pharmacists don't receive immediate relief, some will go broke," Bill Pittman, a former president of the Texas State Board of Pharmacy who is chairman of Pharmacists for Bush, a political fund-raising group, was quoted by the Times as saying he told Rove. "Others are hurting so bad that they will choose not to … [Read more...] about Texas Pharmacists Lobby White House
States to be Reimbursed for ‘Dual Eligibles’ Payments
Mark McClellan, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicare, has assured states that they will be reimbursed for payments for "dual eligibles," beneficiaries who qualified for Medicare and Medicaid coverage. Medicare's prescription drug program has caused much confusion, and some beneficiaries had trouble getting prescriptions filled because they missed the January 1 deadline to change plans. More than 40 states have spent millions to make sure dual eligibles received … [Read more...] about States to be Reimbursed for ‘Dual Eligibles’ Payments
Louisiana Faces $70.2 million Medicaid Cut
An accounting firm called BDO Seidman and the American Health Care Association analyzed the FY 2007 budget proposal and found that Louisiana would face a $70.2 million cut in Medicaid funding for nursing homes, which would represent the ninth highest reduction of all states analyzed. The cuts would add to the state's woes in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. From the press release: "At a time when nursing homes throughout the state are dealing with higher costs and government … [Read more...] about Louisiana Faces $70.2 million Medicaid Cut
NY Nursing Homes Launch Campaign to Preserve Medicaid
Representatives from 630 long term care providers across the state of New York met today to launch a campaign called PASS: Preserve Access to Senior Services. The campaign will give a voice to providers who oppose the state's Medicaid cuts and concerned about the impact cuts could have on long term providers. From the press release: "New York's nursing homes are fighting for survival, especially the not-for-profit, mission-driven and public organizations," said Carl S. Young , president … [Read more...] about NY Nursing Homes Launch Campaign to Preserve Medicaid
Bid to End Medicaid-funded Abortions Fails
In a controversial decision about a controversial practice, a judge in Kansas dismissed a lawsuit that would have forced the state to stop financing abortions for Medicaid beneficiaries. (Medical News Today) The case was unusual. The state attorney general in Kansas, Phill Kline, sued the governor and several other individuals in an effort to establish that life begins at conception so the unborn would be protected as individuals under the state constitution. The judge made no … [Read more...] about Bid to End Medicaid-funded Abortions Fails
State of the Union – Medicare/Medicaid
The State of the Union address is an overview of the current condition of the nation, not an in-depth analysis of economic, social, or cultural issues. However, I believe Medicare's controversial new prescription drug program is important enough to warrant a brief comment or two. Unfortunately, the president didn't mention it at all. The new drug program has received widespread criticism from beneficiaries, doctors, and providers who say the program is confusing and complicated. (See the … [Read more...] about State of the Union – Medicare/Medicaid