GOVERNMENTNews in brief - Sept. 21, 2009Medicare lifts sanctions on WellPoint - Medicare may cover HIV screening - TMA holds public meetings on uninsured Medicare lifts sanctions on WellPointThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services sent a Sept. 9 letter to WellPoint informing the insurer that it once again could, on Nov. 15, begin enrolling beneficiaries in its Medicare drug plans and private health plans for the 2010 contract year. WellPoint may resume marketing for the programs effective Oct. 1. CMS told WellPoint in January it was suspended from enrolling beneficiaries in Part D and Medicare Advantage, and from issuing any marketing materials about the programs, because it had "demonstrated a longstanding and persistent failure to comply with requirements for proper administration" of the plans. Internal problems had led to a number of beneficiaries incorrectly being denied access to medications, CMS found. CMS said WellPoint prescription drug offerings will not be included among the plans into which some low-income subsidy recipients are enrolled automatically. Medicare may cover HIV screeningThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Sept. 9 a proposal to cover HIV screening for Medicare beneficiaries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates nearly 19% of U.S. residents with AIDS were 50 or older at the time of diagnosis. This is the first time Medicare has proposed to expand covered preventive services under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. CMS will accept public comments through Oct. 9. TMA holds public meetings on uninsuredTexas residents agree that the number of uninsured people in the state is a problem, but few support more government involvement in health insurance, according to a straw poll of about 1,400 participants in 15 town hall meetings convened by the Texas Medical Assn. About 3,000 people attended the events around the state, said TMA spokesman Steve Levine. The TMA's 15-question survey is not scientific. But the majority of survey respondents agreed with the statement: "The growing number of uninsured patients in Texas ... is a major problem and must be fixed." Also, at least 91% of respondents agreed that "any health reform should allow patients to choose their own doctor" or to stay with their current physician. Majorities from nearly every forum agreed that "Medicaid should be better funded so more poor Americans can receive health care." With the exception of one meeting, only small percentages of attendees backed an expanded government role in providing Americans with health insurance. Also, most of those attending the meetings did not support requiring businesses to provide coverage to employees or forcing them to pay a pxenalty for not doing so. The print version of this content appeared in the Sept. 28, 2009 issue of American Medical News. Copyright 2009 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. |
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