Thursday, May 26, 2005

Court questions how TennCare will cut (Tennessee) Story in The Tennessean - "A three-judge federal appeals court panel closely questioned lawyers yesterday about plans to cut the TennCare rolls. At issue in the case before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is not whether TennCare cuts go forward, but rather, how. The judges, who have said they will issue a ruling in the case by June 1, specifically questioned lawyers yesterday about two issues: Do plans to cut TennCare rolls give people enough of a chance to make their case if they believe they're being cut from the program by mistake? and  Are state plans to assist a subgroup of TennCare enrollees to be cut — those with severe and persistent mental illnesses — adequate in ushering them through the process?" See also More staff, doctors part of TennCare safety net at the same source.  
  

Unprecedented Florida Medicaid Changes Risks Patient Health, APA Says US Newswire press release - "In response to Florida's enactment of harmful new Medicaid legislation, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) released the following statement today on behalf of John Bailey, D.O., president of the Florida Psychiatric Society, and APA Medical Director James H. Scully Jr., M.D.: Today the American Psychiatric Association warned that Florida's enactment of new Medicaid legislation puts people with mental illness at serious risk. The unprecedented and most harmful aspect of the law is a requirement that -- each year -- a patient must first fail on the cheapest mandated medications before the patient is given access to the medication his or her physician believes is optimal, even where the patient has been successfully treated with the physician-chosen medication. This major health policy setback will help ensure that patients are less likely to get relief from their illness, less likely to experience full remission, and more at risk for adverse outcomes and devastating side effects. Worse, Florida - a bellwether state on Medicaid policy - could ignite a nationwide trend toward public health policies that are regressive and clearly not formulated with patient welfare in mind. Florida's cost-savings expectations will prove illusory at the expense of a vulnerable population..."