Health Under Medicare

By TRAVIS REED | Associated Press Writer
5:24 PM CST, February 13, 2009
        http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-fl-wellcare-buyingin,0,1773163.story

MIAMI - While Florida politicians were considering a vast overhaul of the state’s troubled Medicaid system, a Tampa company that administered care for half a million poor and needy residents was busy lining their pockets with campaign donations.

WellCare Health Plans Inc., its subsidiaries and executives spent $2.4 million on political contributions in the 2004 and 2006 elections, according to an analysis of campaign records by The Associated Press. More than 95 percent of it went to Republicans, who pushed forward a nationally watched plan that funnels more state and federal Medicaid spending than ever through private companies like WellCare, which profit most by providing the least care.

At the same time, WellCare acknowledges it was cheating Florida out of tens of millions in overpayments and is under investigation for suspected fraud and unfair business practices by a cadre of state and federal agencies.
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For an up todate booklet check with CANHR

Call them at 415-974-5171

or

Check the ultimate source at California Department of  Health Care Services

Newsom ready to sue over cuts in Medi-Cal

Cecilia M. Vega,Heather Knight, Chronicle Staff Writer

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who is considering a run for governor in 2010, injected himself into California’s heated budget battle Tuesday by threatening to sue the state over cuts to its medical insurance program for the poor.

Newsom called the cuts - a 10 percent reduction in reimbursements to doctors who treat Medi-Cal patients - “unconscionable.”

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Newsom criticized both Republicans and fellow Democrats for approving the Medi-Cal cuts in February. Due to take effect July 1, the reductions will save the state $567 million - but also mean California will lose the same amount in matching federal dollars.

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Check out the attached fact-sheet published by California Health Advocates. in February 2007

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Final CMS Medicaid Reimbursement Rule Shows Reckless Disregard for Patient Welfare by Threatening Viability of Independent Community Pharmacies, Says NCPA
ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The mechanism to slash Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement was unveiled by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS on Friday. In response, the National Community Pharmacists Association NCPA expressed outrage at CMS publication of the Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement formula for generic prescription drugs, which when fully implemented could dramatically reduce patient access to community pharmacies. The new formula, based on a new definition of Average Manufacturer Price AMP, will pay community pharmacies well below their acquisition cost for generic prescription drugs for Medicaid patients.

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CONTACT: John Norton of the National Community Pharmacists Association,
+1-703-838-2682, john.norton@ncpanet.org

Web site: http://www.ncpanet.org/

One of the concerns of California Advocates for Nursing Reform is the provision of long term care through Medi-Cal

http://canhr.org/medcal/medcal_index.htm

The Department of Health Service is drafting legislation and regulations to implement the Medicaid provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005:

The Impact of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 on Long Term Care Medicaid (Medi-Cal)

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On February 1, 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives, by a narrow margin of 216-214, voted to pass the Deficit Reduction Act (DFRA) of 2005 (S. 1932), which includes numerous provisions aimed at denying Medicaid benefits to current and prospective nursing home residents. Every House Democrat voted against the bill, along with 13 Republicans. The President signed the bill with great fanfare on February 8, 2006.Over the next few weeks, CANHR will provide a more detailed analysis of the bill and its likely impact in California, particularly the implementation dates and whether legislation or regulations or both will be needed to implement the new federal law. Regardless of when the bill’s provisions are implemented, there is no question that the lives of long term care consumers will be impacted dramatically.

http://www.canhr.org/medcal/medical_changes092006.html

See how the DRA may impact California Medi-Cal benefits:

http://www.canhr.org/medcal/Medcal_PDFs/DRA-Californiaside-by-side200703.pdf