News in brief - Nov. 10, 2003

Doctors asked to help cure system - Medicare "balloons" in 2003 - Pressing for mental health parity

Doctors asked to help cure system

The liability insurance crisis, problems with Medicare and Americans' lack of access to health insurance are among issues that threaten the future of the health care system, Senate Majority Leader William Frist, MD (R, Tenn.), told physicians at the recent American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in Chicago.

He asked for support in developing legislation. "You are health care policy experts, and the individuals who shape laws, regulations and public opinion need to know surgeons' views."

Medicare "balloons" in 2003

Despite its intention to combat obesity, the Bush administration has found at least one blimp it likes.

The 1-800-Medicare blimp debuted at the Texas State Fair Oct. 10, flew over the Oklahoma-Texas college football game the next day and then over the Texas Motor Speedway.

"It was intended to get laughter," said Tom Scully, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "People don't expect that out of government agencies, but it was relatively cheap."

The blimp is part of CMS' $30 million campaign this fall to publicize the number as seniors prepare to make their Medicare coverage choices for 2004. In 2001, CMS spent $30 million on a humorous television ad campaign starring actor Leslie Nielsen to promote the toll-free help line.

"Any time a senior picks up the phone and calls 1-800-Medicare, my view is that's a good thing," Scully said. "The more they understand, the better off they'll be."

Pressing for mental health parity

A year after the death of Paul Wellstone in a plane crash, Senate Democrats are pushing their leadership to honor the well-liked Minnesota senator by bringing legislation on mental health parity to the floor for a vote.

Forty-nine senators sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader William Frist, MD (R, Tenn.), asking him to give priority to the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act. The measure would mandate that health insurers offer mental health benefits that are equal to coverage for physical disorders.

The bill is awaiting markup by the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee, making it unlikely that Dr. Frist will forgo procedure to call a floor vote on the measure.