Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Faces of Medicaid
A report, in Adobe Acrobat format, from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured that "...profiles Medicaid’s role for the low-income population in providing basic health insurance, particularly for children; in supporting services that enable people with disabilities to function and be independent; and in filling gaps in Medicare for seniors, including prescription drugs and long-term care."  
  

The Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card Program: Implications for Low-income Medicare Beneficiaries
This "Issue Paper," in Adobe Acrobat format, from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured describes the discount card and low-income assistance programs and discusses their implications for low-income Medicare beneficiaries and state Medicaid programs.  
  

TennCare plan likely to fly, but the questions remain
April 25 story in The Tennesean - "Gov. Phil Bredesen's proposals to change TennCare will be disruptive to those who receive their health care under the state health insurance program, but the plan is expected to have clear sailing in the legislature regardless. That is the assessment of state Sen. Doug Jackson, co-chairman of the TennCare Oversight Committee. That panel of House and Senate members meets tomorrow to hear testimony about changes from doctors, pharmacists, mental health organizations and a group fighting child abuse..."  
  

Health Net sued in Californoia over mental health plan
Forbes article - "A California consumer group has filed a "private attorney general" lawsuit against Health Net Inc. to force the managed care provider to expand its coverage of mental illnesses. The lawsuit, filed on Monday, is believed to be the first test of the state's 1999 Mental Health Parity Law requiring health plans to provide the same coverage for mental health conditions as for general health conditions. The California law, which requires the same co-payments and access to coverage for mental health as for general health complaints, is stricter than federal law..." See also 'Bait and Switch' Alleged at Health Net in the Los Angeles Times. [Viewing Los Angeles Times stories requires registration, which is free].