Liability costs for volunteers eyed
A measure Sen. Mike Enzi (R, Wyo.) introduced late last month would help states develop programs to provide health care to the underserved. The Volunteer Healthcare Program Act of 2008 would provide $3 million to 15 states over five years to subsidize medical liability premiums for volunteer physicians, dentists and other health professionals.
Many doctors say they want to provide free medical services to patients who do not have health care coverage but are deterred from doing so because of liability concerns.
Priority access to the free care would be given to uninsured people with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty line.
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Legislation targets Medicare ID theft
A House bill introduced late last month would remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards in an effort to help seniors avoid having their identities stolen.
The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General in a May report said the Medicare cards create an opportunity for criminals to steal seniors' personal information. "Forty-four million Americans carry in their wallet or purse something that makes them needlessly more vulnerable to identify theft -- it's their Medicare card," said Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D, Texas), who introduced the bill.
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