Thursday, October 03, 2002

Survey Forecasts Higher U.S. Health Costs for 2003
Reuters Health story at Yahoo - "Next year, large employers will see the highest annual percentage increase in healthcare costs in a decade, according to preliminary survey results showing a 15% average increase in health benefit costs for 2003." See also the Fortune magazine piece by David Stires, The Coming Crash in Health Care, which notes that the stocks of managed care companies are doing quite well, but that "the managed-care industry is dying."  
  

HHS Approves Expanded "Independent Choices" in Arkansas
HHS press release - "HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today approved Arkansas' request to expand a Medicaid demonstration to allow all eligible beneficiaries with long-term disabilities to directly control their personal care services and expenses. Under the Arkansas program, 'Independent Choices,' Medicaid beneficiaries who qualify for personal care services because of long-term disabilities can choose to receive a monthly allowance for those costs instead of accepting traditional agency-provided attendant care services. This provides beneficiaries and their families with greater choice and control over the supportive services needed to live at home and participate fully in community life." See also the HHS web site Centers for Medicaid and Medicaid Services, which is designed to share innovative practices and approaches to strengthen their community long-term support systems.  
  

Pataki proposes medicaid break for all New York state counties
Story in The Ithaca Journal on a proposal by Gov. George Pataki that counties not have to pay back $172 million in Medicaid money owed the state. The story indicates that under the plan, counties that have been advanced money by the state over the years to help with cash-flow problems in some mental-health programs wouldn't have to repay it."