April 15, 2012 Legislation

Healthcare

Physicians

Healthcare

A report came out stating that if Obamacare was in place insureds would have received over two Billion dollars in refunds due to the medical spending ratio.  This is false since if Obamacare were in place the insurers would have been in compliance.  The "research" came from the left leaning Commonwealth Fund.  Almost all the potential problems are in the small insurance companies.  The large companies usually meet or exceed the medical loss ratio.

The White House (Obama) states that the GOP budget is bad for women.  They justify this statement in that many women who give birth are on Medicaid and there are many women on Medicare.  Both are true.  Like on tests the answers are true true and unrelated.  Expect to see many more of these announcements between now and the election.

MedPAC wants new fees for Medigap policies.  They want higher fees so more do not buy the plans.  The problem is that those with Medigap plans do not have any skin in the game.  They have first dollar coverage.  That is true but unlike employer based first dollar coverage, the Medicare insureds pay for the extra coverage themselves.  The Board hopes that with higher fees less will buy the insurance and have to pay the 20% out of pocket.

The feds have finally listened to the hospitals and physicians.  they have delayed the dreaded ICD-10 for one year.  The new deadline will be October, 2014.

Talk about chutzpah, the HHS has begun the transfer of money to the IRS of $500 million for implementation of the individual mandate in Obamacare.  This as the Supreme Court decides the fate of not only the mandate and Medicaid but the entire law.  Congress now wants to know what the IRS is planning to do with the money.

A study by a Republican approved by Obama to study Obamacare shows that the true cost of the program will be to raise the deficit by $350 Billion.  The reason is any savings by law must go into the Medicare hospitalization trust fund which must be used to pay years of additional benefits to those already insured.  Therefore no money would be available for the now uninsured.  

HHS has named 27 more ACOs.  This added to the original 32 were named for the advanced version.  These original ones will take a greater risk in the first two years.  The latest ones will not take the great risk in the beginning.  They will also not get as much.  In good news, the new ACOs are mostly physician led organizations usually associating with insurers.  Another 150 potential ACOs have applied for recognition in July.

In the People's Republic of Massachusetts the state agency in charge of the money losing healthcare is renegotiating contracts with insurers to gain another 5% reduction in payments.  This comes to $91 million with the same benefits. This is for those people who do not have regular insurance and number 186,000.

Washington's Governor has put the temporary kibosh on the state's plan on not pay for non-emergency care in the ED as determined retrospectively.  The legislature is attempting to find less stupid ways to deal with the problem.

Mississippi is proposing to lure physicians to their state by giving tax breaks to physicians who locate there.  They would not have to pay state income tax on incomes over $100,000 if they worked in rural areas.  The law has passed the House and is now being considered by the Senate.  The Governor is for the bill.        Top

Physicians

The University of Wisconsin Medical School disciplined 20 doctors for their illegally giving sick slips to protesters.  Several doctors were fined up to $4000 and the medical board is also looking into disciplining the physicians.  Others have gotten reprimands from the medical board.        Top

Archive  

DISCLAIMER: Although this article is updated periodically, it reflects the author's point of view at the time of publication. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. Readers should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any of the information presented.

 

 

April 15, 2012 Legislation

Healthcare

Physicians

Healthcare

A report came out stating that if Obamacare was in place insureds would have received over two Billion dollars in refunds due to the medical spending ratio.  This is false since if Obamacare were in place the insurers would have been in compliance.  The "research" came from the left leaning Commonwealth Fund.  Almost all the potential problems are in the small insurance companies.  The large companies usually meet or exceed the medical loss ratio.

The White House (Obama) states that the GOP budget is bad for women.  They justify this statement in that many women who give birth are on Medicaid and there are many women on Medicare.  Both are true.  Like on tests the answers are true true and unrelated.  Expect to see many more of these announcements between now and the election.

MedPAC wants new fees for Medigap policies.  They want higher fees so more do not buy the plans.  The problem is that those with Medigap plans do not have any skin in the game.  They have first dollar coverage.  That is true but unlike employer based first dollar coverage, the Medicare insureds pay for the extra coverage themselves.  The Board hopes that with higher fees less will buy the insurance and have to pay the 20% out of pocket.

The feds have finally listened to the hospitals and physicians.  they have delayed the dreaded ICD-10 for one year.  The new deadline will be October, 2014.

Talk about chutzpah, the HHS has begun the transfer of money to the IRS of $500 million for implementation of the individual mandate in Obamacare.  This as the Supreme Court decides the fate of not only the mandate and Medicaid but the entire law.  Congress now wants to know what the IRS is planning to do with the money.

A study by a Republican approved by Obama to study Obamacare shows that the true cost of the program will be to raise the deficit by $350 Billion.  The reason is any savings by law must go into the Medicare hospitalization trust fund which must be used to pay years of additional benefits to those already insured.  Therefore no money would be available for the now uninsured.  

HHS has named 27 more ACOs.  This added to the original 32 were named for the advanced version.  These original ones will take a greater risk in the first two years.  The latest ones will not take the great risk in the beginning.  They will also not get as much.  In good news, the new ACOs are mostly physician led organizations usually associating with insurers.  Another 150 potential ACOs have applied for recognition in July.

In the People's Republic of Massachusetts the state agency in charge of the money losing healthcare is renegotiating contracts with insurers to gain another 5% reduction in payments.  This comes to $91 million with the same benefits. This is for those people who do not have regular insurance and number 186,000.

Washington's Governor has put the temporary kibosh on the state's plan on not pay for non-emergency care in the ED as determined retrospectively.  The legislature is attempting to find less stupid ways to deal with the problem.

Mississippi is proposing to lure physicians to their state by giving tax breaks to physicians who locate there.  They would not have to pay state income tax on incomes over $100,000 if they worked in rural areas.  The law has passed the House and is now being considered by the Senate.  The Governor is for the bill.        Top

Physicians

The University of Wisconsin Medical School disciplined 20 doctors for their illegally giving sick slips to protesters.  Several doctors were fined up to $4000 and the medical board is also looking into disciplining the physicians.  Others have gotten reprimands from the medical board.        Top

Archive  

DISCLAIMER: Although this article is updated periodically, it reflects the author's point of view at the time of publication. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. Readers should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any of the information presented.

 

 

Archive  

DISCLAIMER: Although this article is updated periodically, it reflects the author's point of view at the time of publication. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. Readers should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any of the information presented.