Regional health care officials feel slighted by governor's absence
Quincy Herald Whig, IL -
No solutions were offered during Monday's meeting. The only hope is Senate Bill 14, which directs Topinka to release $250 million in fund transfers from fiscal years 2005 and 2006 that would generate $500 million through federal matching dollars and reduce the payment cycle by 22 days.
2006-05-15
Prescription drug coverage: Worth the sign-up hassle?
Aurora Beacon News, IL -
But those attitudes quickly changed in November, when the enrollment period began and Medicare beneficiaries were bombarded with mail from dozens of insurance companies. Many seniors quickly were confused about their options and then again perplexed by the many factors involved with making a choice.
2006-05-14
Lawmakers seek compromise on Medicaid fraud bill
Columbia Missourian, MO -
The committee took out the penalizing language of the bill that was deemed harsh and then offered the bill to the House floor. The penalizing language included an 85 percent provision where fraudulent providers, guilty of illegally taking in excess of $50,000 from Medicaid recipients, would have to serve 85 percent of their acquired prison sentence.
2006-05-13
POLITICAL FIX
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, United States -
“Sixteen states are using false claims acts to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars that could be used to provide access to health care for low-income citizens. It is unconscionable that Missouri is not using every tool at its disposal to stop fraud, and at the same time, more than 250,000 low-income citizens have lost Medicaid insurance over the past four years,” Blouin said. “An estimated $200 to $500 million is lost in Missouri every year due to Medicaid provider fraud.”
2006-05-12
Review of Texas's Accounts Receivable System for Medicaid Provider
Community Dispatch (press release) -
Our objective was to determine whether the State of Texas (State) reported Medicaid provider overpayment adjustments and reclaiming adjustments in accordance with Federal requirements. The State did not report 48 overpayment adjustments totaling approximately $1.91 million (approximately $1.21 million Federal share) in accordance with Federal requirements. This resulted in potentially higher interest expense to the Federal Government of approximately $19,964. The untimely overpayment adjustments occurred because the State did not have reconciliation procedures in place to verify that all reportable Medicaid provider overpayments were included on its CMS-64s [Quarterly Medicaid Statement of Expenditures for the Medical Assistance Program, Form CMS-64] within the required timeframe. The State also did not have written policies and procedures in place to ensure compliance with Federal requirements related to submitting reclaiming adjustments. We recommended that the State: (1) continue its reconciliation procedures to ensure that future overpayments are reported timely on the CMS-64s in accordance with Federal criteria; and (2) verify that the written policies and procedures that it is currently developing ensure that future reclaiming adjustments are reported in accordance with Federal requirements. The State agreed.
2006-05-07
Staying Put at 96
Wall Street Journal, NY -
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2006-05-06
House panel endorses weaker Medicaid fraud bill
Belleville News-Democrat, IL -
The Senate bill allowed people, such as company employees who suspect wrongdoing, to file suit on behalf of the state to recover money. Such a lawsuit would be sealed for 120 days while the attorney general studied it. If the attorney general pursued the case and recovered money, the whistleblower could receive up to 35 percent of the award. If the attorney general declined to take the case, it would end.
1. Federal spending on Medicaid is projected to increase by 36 percent between 2006 and 2010
Federal spending on Medicaid is projected to increase by 36 percent (or $70 billion) between 2006 and 2010. House Republicans voted for a budget that ...
2. The Bush administration wants to reform Medicaid so that federal spending is capped and states have more control over the program
The Bush administration wants to reform Medicaid so that federal spending is capped and states have more control over the program. The nation''s governors, ...
3. Medicaid funding cuts add to pharmacy''s woes
Medicaid funding cuts add to pharmacy''s woes.(THE ISSUES)
4. The impact of an innovative reform to the South Carolina Dental Medicaid system
Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative reform in 2000 to the Dental Medicaid program in South Carolina.
5. The effect of Medicaid payment generosity on access and use among beneficiaries
Objective. This study examines the effects of Medicaid payment generosity on access and care for adult and child Medicaid beneficiaries.