News in brief - May 1, 2006

Fla. high court upholds law requiring doctors to give abortion-risk info - Poll shows wide support for Mass. health reforms; governor signs bill - Medicare Rx fraud program questioned

Fla. high court upholds law requiring doctors to give abortion-risk info

The Florida Supreme Court in April upheld the constitutionality of a state law requiring physicians to inform patients of possible abortion risks before performing the procedure. Justices ruled that the informed consent law did not violate a woman's right to privacy. But the court also concluded that it applied only to "medical" risks.

"Physicians are not sociologists, economists, theologians or philosophers," Justice R. Fred Lewis wrote. "It's implausible to conclude that the Legislature intended that physicians be required to venture far beyond their professional specialty and expertise to advise patients of nonmedical matters," the opinion stated.

The 1997 law was challenged by the Presidential Women's Center in West Palm Beach before it ever took effect. But the statute still remains on hold because of unresolved issues in the trial court.

Poll shows wide support for Mass. health reforms; governor signs bill

Most Americans would support health reforms similar to those approved last month in Massachusetts, according to a new poll. The changes aim to cover more than 90% of the state's uninsured in a subsidized, market-based system that fines those who fail to participate.

An ABC News/Washington Post survey of 1,027 adults conducted shortly before Gov. Mitt Romney approved the legislation showed that 58% of Democrats, 49% of Republicans and 58% of independents would back such a law.

"An achievement like this comes around once in a generation, and it proves that government can work when people of both parties reach across the aisle for the common good," Romney said April 12 when he signed the bill. He used the line-item veto to delete the $295 annual fee on businesses who employ 11 or more people but don't offer and contribute to health insurance. But the veto was seen as symbolic, as the Democratic-dominated Legislature is expected to override the Republican governor.

Medicare Rx fraud program questioned

Lawmakers are worried that federal officials are missing opportunities to prevent and smoke out fraud in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. Senate Finance Committee Chair Charles Grassley (R, Iowa) and Ranking Member Max Baucus (D, Mont.) sent an April 13 letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services questioning the agency's use of federal anti-fraud dollars.

Although Congress recently allocated $100 million to hire eight contractors that would hunt down entities that use the drug program to bilk the government, CMS has only issued one task order to a single contractor.