Excerpts from Henry J Kaiser Foundations Research Oct 14,2009
Social Security recipients are not expected to receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the first time in 2010, with no or low COLAs projected through 2012.
This issue brief, based on the most recent projections of the Medicare and Social Security Trustees, explains the relationship between the Social Security COLA and the Medicare Part B premium.
Not all Medicare beneficiaries will be affected. About three in four Medicare beneficiaries are protected by a “hold-harmless” provision in the law Thus, the higher premiums would fall on the remaining one quarter of beneficiaries — with monthly premiums expected to rise from $96.40 this year to $120.20 in 2011.
Medicaid would pay the cost of the monthly Part B premium, increasing Medicaid costs for states.
read complete brief
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Tort Re-visited
CBO Finds That Medicare Malpractice Reform Would Produce Substantial Savings
The CBO responded this week to a request from Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) with an updated analysis on the potential budgetary effects of tort reform proposals aimed at limiting the costs related to medical malpractice. The CBO found that by instituting prudent tort reform measures, federal spending would be reduced by $41 billion over 10 years and the federal deficit would decline by $54 billion.
TORT Definition: A tort is a civil wrong for which a remedy (usually money damages) can be obtained by law. It is a breach of the special duty that skilled professionals such as doctors have in excess of the ordinary person. Tort law and insurance regulation are traditionally under the purview of the states.
The CBO responded this week to a request from Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) with an updated analysis on the potential budgetary effects of tort reform proposals aimed at limiting the costs related to medical malpractice. The CBO found that by instituting prudent tort reform measures, federal spending would be reduced by $41 billion over 10 years and the federal deficit would decline by $54 billion.
TORT Definition: A tort is a civil wrong for which a remedy (usually money damages) can be obtained by law. It is a breach of the special duty that skilled professionals such as doctors have in excess of the ordinary person. Tort law and insurance regulation are traditionally under the purview of the states.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Senate Panel To Vote On Baucus Plan Next Tuesday
A number of media reports see momentum now building behind the President's push to overhaul the nation's healthcare system. ABC World News reported, "A vote is now set for next Tuesday in the Senate Finance Committee on its $829 billion health care reform plan." The CBS Evening News noted that "according to a new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the plan costs less than expected and would actually reduce the deficit.
So why do Republicans still oppose it?" CBS showed House Minority Whip Eric Cantor saying, "The fact is the numbers arrived at by taxing businesses, by taxing people who have insurance, as well as cutting benefits for seniors. That's not an acceptable health care reform recipe."
The AP reports Democrats "have made significant strides since Labor Day, when they returned to the Capitol in near disarray after an August spent absorbing attacks from noisy conservative critics at home." The New York Times reports that "Republicans were not impressed by the new numbers" from CBO,
Comment: It seems we all agree that our healthcare system needs to be fixed. Some of our lawmakers seem to actually be working on a solution. While the majority of them spend endless hours plotting how they can take political advantage of the disorder they themselves have created.
Our political system provides us with the means to advance our human condition while at the same time allowing us to place roadblocks to its realization.
So why do Republicans still oppose it?" CBS showed House Minority Whip Eric Cantor saying, "The fact is the numbers arrived at by taxing businesses, by taxing people who have insurance, as well as cutting benefits for seniors. That's not an acceptable health care reform recipe."
The AP reports Democrats "have made significant strides since Labor Day, when they returned to the Capitol in near disarray after an August spent absorbing attacks from noisy conservative critics at home." The New York Times reports that "Republicans were not impressed by the new numbers" from CBO,
Comment: It seems we all agree that our healthcare system needs to be fixed. Some of our lawmakers seem to actually be working on a solution. While the majority of them spend endless hours plotting how they can take political advantage of the disorder they themselves have created.
Our political system provides us with the means to advance our human condition while at the same time allowing us to place roadblocks to its realization.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Baucus Bill meets Obama's requirements
October 8,2009
Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad said on MSNBC's Ed Show, "I'm still not at all certain we can get the 60 votes necessary without some Republicans. At the end of the day, this is a good bill. It's a good beginning. It's paid for. It reduces the cost curve by $650 billion to $1.3 trillion over the second 10 years according to CBO in this latest report."
Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad said on MSNBC's Ed Show, "I'm still not at all certain we can get the 60 votes necessary without some Republicans. At the end of the day, this is a good bill. It's a good beginning. It's paid for. It reduces the cost curve by $650 billion to $1.3 trillion over the second 10 years according to CBO in this latest report."
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
You think there might be a light at the end of the tunnel?
Oct 7,2009
Preview of article from Dow Jones Subscription service
"WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--A health overhaul proposal from Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., got a boost Wednesday from the Congressional Budget Office, which said the bill wouldn't add to the deficit through 2019 and probably would continue to raise more money for the government than it costs after that time.
The widely awaited preliminary estimate from CBO found that the bill would reduce the deficit by $81 billion through 2019.
The CBO said the gross cost of the bill comes to $829 billion ..."
Comment: Seems like the invective and mudslinging chaos is starting to dissolve into an overhaul of our broken Health care system that looks a lot like Obama promised in his campaign. I am sure there are plenty of critics who find this direction unpalatable but life goes on and good people of good intent do sometimes do good things, we can hope.
Preview of article from Dow Jones Subscription service
"WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--A health overhaul proposal from Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., got a boost Wednesday from the Congressional Budget Office, which said the bill wouldn't add to the deficit through 2019 and probably would continue to raise more money for the government than it costs after that time.
The widely awaited preliminary estimate from CBO found that the bill would reduce the deficit by $81 billion through 2019.
The CBO said the gross cost of the bill comes to $829 billion ..."
Comment: Seems like the invective and mudslinging chaos is starting to dissolve into an overhaul of our broken Health care system that looks a lot like Obama promised in his campaign. I am sure there are plenty of critics who find this direction unpalatable but life goes on and good people of good intent do sometimes do good things, we can hope.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Will Insurers Balk At Weakening of Individual Insurance Mandate
By Mary Agnes Carey, KHN Staff Writer
Oct 02, 2009
"Health insurers have held their fire as Congress debates payment cuts, new fees and taxes and more regulation for their industry. Now the question is: Will they balk – or walk – if lawmakers continue to weaken a requirement that people carry insurance?"
read whole article
Comment:
If you ignore all the politics and special interest bombardment and think about it what we are seeing here is a zeroing in on is one huge group insurance policy.
When everybody is in the pool, all of the majority of healthy people are paying for services they may not need often and the ones who really need the help are paying the same low rates.
Everybody gets the help they need and nobody gets to die young because they can't afford medical help.
Some of the side benefits are less workers off because they are sick and more productive workers because they are healthier and feel more like working.
Let's face it, a healthier nation is a more productive nation. Everybody wins.
Oct 02, 2009
"Health insurers have held their fire as Congress debates payment cuts, new fees and taxes and more regulation for their industry. Now the question is: Will they balk – or walk – if lawmakers continue to weaken a requirement that people carry insurance?"
read whole article
Comment:
If you ignore all the politics and special interest bombardment and think about it what we are seeing here is a zeroing in on is one huge group insurance policy.
When everybody is in the pool, all of the majority of healthy people are paying for services they may not need often and the ones who really need the help are paying the same low rates.
Everybody gets the help they need and nobody gets to die young because they can't afford medical help.
Some of the side benefits are less workers off because they are sick and more productive workers because they are healthier and feel more like working.
Let's face it, a healthier nation is a more productive nation. Everybody wins.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Medicaid Fraud Uncovered in Survey
NAHU Newswire 10/1/2009
GAO finds "thousands" of potentially fraudulent Medicaid purchases. CQ HealthBeat (10/1, Norman, subscription required) reports that a GAO "analysis has found thousands of Medicaid beneficiaries involved in potentially fraudulent purchases of controlled substances in five large states -- including prescriptions filled for some 1,800 people who had already died." The investigation "also found Medicaid in those states paid about $500,000 in claims based on controlled substance prescriptions 'written' by physicians after their deaths." The report was issued to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday. Committee member Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-DE) said, "It is clear that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services need to do a better job of providing guidance and regulatory enforcement for the states. .. At the same time, states need to take greater responsibility for preventing and rooting out fraud, waste and abuse from their own backyards."
GAO finds "thousands" of potentially fraudulent Medicaid purchases. CQ HealthBeat (10/1, Norman, subscription required) reports that a GAO "analysis has found thousands of Medicaid beneficiaries involved in potentially fraudulent purchases of controlled substances in five large states -- including prescriptions filled for some 1,800 people who had already died." The investigation "also found Medicaid in those states paid about $500,000 in claims based on controlled substance prescriptions 'written' by physicians after their deaths." The report was issued to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday. Committee member Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-DE) said, "It is clear that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services need to do a better job of providing guidance and regulatory enforcement for the states. .. At the same time, states need to take greater responsibility for preventing and rooting out fraud, waste and abuse from their own backyards."
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