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Week of November 15, 2010

state budget problems are so horrific and the rising cost of health care in certain states are disturbing look at what Sun may have been unthinkable a year there or two ago – opting out of the federal Medicaid program. The New York Times reported last week that Texas (see below) and a handful of other states are considering doing just that, especially after the federal health care reform will expand (in 2014) the number of residents who are eligible for the state administered health care program. In South Carolina, state officials are considering not paying the claims of Medicaid in March 2011, unless they can obtain authorization to operate in deficit. Some heads of state and Medicaid recognize fall could have a devastating effect on their local economies, making it unlikely that such a course. The fact that it is on the table, however, speaks volumes about the growing problem of flight of health care costs and the need to develop systematic solutions for the way in protecting patients and Affordable Care Act (PPAC) has addressed the problems of access . In order to ensure easy answers MOE />
Health Reform Implementation
For more details on the ongoing implementation of the law of health care reform and its potential impact on you again, read a new edition of our eye, on the implementation.

feature Federal

With the Congressional recess last week, is not abstract for this week’s Federal. />
States
ALASKA: A committee of public health established by the legislature this year has initiated a review of the rapidly rising medical costs and pricing models of care among health providers . Alaska cost of health care rising faster than the national average. The Committee held its first meeting in Anchorage on Oct. 14 and 15 after its members were appointed by the governor. Sean Parnell. Most committee members were on a health care work before, but this group has five new members, two state legislators. In an attempt to provide the Commission with data of cost and quality, Aetna issued a series of studies and documents produced by the Department of Public Policy

CALIFORNIA: The government deficit is once again facing a huge budget -. – 0.4 billion projected for 2011, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Office (LAO). California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will convene a special session of the budget starting Dec. 6 to pay the current year to 0.1 billion deficit. process next year’s budget will be affected by two proposals adopted during the November election. Voters approved Proposition 22, which limits the state’s ability to borrow money from local governments, and then approved the proposal of 26, making it more difficult to raise taxes. It also rolls back the taxes that were adopted by a vote of less than two thirds of this year. LAO budget estimates that these proposals will create a hole in the dollar. Democrat elected governor Jerry Brown, who has campaigned on a promise of no new taxes, will release its draft budget in early January

New Jersey. Last week, the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee has made a clarification that the rules outside the liability for payment under the benefit plans of the health network, coverage of the procedure takes a few consumers, and revise procedures changes in contracts for managed care plan. After more than two hours of testimony, Schaer president used his power to reject any formal action on the bill. In his speech, the President noted, “The rising cost of health coverage and the exclusion of other socially important for the government efforts and leading to economic difficulties for employers.” Conducted by the New Jersey Association of Hospital & Medical Society, the vendor community was virtually united opposition to the legislation. The business community, NJ Association of Health underwriters, and a large contingent of trade unions have expressed their support for the bill. Aetna, trade with others, remains concerned about the provisions of the draft law on non-participants, hospital doctors and the ability to out-of-network providers to give members assessments, coinsurance, or deductibles. . Aetna will continue to closely monitor legislation />
TENNESSEE: The Tennessee Insurance Exchange announced the initiative in planning for two members of the newly formed technical advisory groups (TAG). Members of these groups to provide expert analysis on specific issues to help the process of changing the state insurance plan. The state is trying to decide if it wants to operate an exchange of health insurance. Mark Schmidt, president of the Aetna contract, the south-east, has been appointed by the Governor for the Day of the State Planning Insurance Exchange. Members / subscription and Actuarial TAG Agent / Broker TAG will provide expertise on issues of analysis to facilitate the process of changing the state insurance plan. The volunteer members of each tag will meet in Nashville this fall and winter. Members DAY agent / broker will provide a detailed inventory of options for policy makers of the state, and then after each successive document. Once information is received by the federal government, so the state “is proposed to convene Tag of health workers, consumer representatives, marketing experts and awareness

TEXAS. Several Republican lawmakers proposed an unprecedented solution for estimating billion state budget deficit. the abandonment of the federal Medicaid program, the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, estimates that Texas could save dollars between 2013 and 2019 to withdraw from Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, to sharp drop coverage, while continuing to finance long-term care services. With 3.6 million children, disabled and poor Texans enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, Texas Health and Human Services Commission will publish its own study on effects of ending the State’s participation in the program of the federal government. Some members say they are not able to reduce benefits or eligibility changes to reduce costs is “the failure of our state.” State Rep. John Zerwas , a anesthesiologist who drafted the bill Medicaid commissioned the study, said the early indications are that the program would stall a huge ripple effect financially, and he is concerned about who would bear the burden of caring for Medicaid without “mechanism Financial. “Currently, the program costs Texas $ biennium, with 60 percent of the federal government foot the bill. Continuation of federal health reform, millions of Texans will be eligible for additional Medicaid .. Legislators examine Medicaid patients want What could be more profitably used to improve the results of a state-run program

WASHINGTON: Governor Chris Gregoire says that receives the message after the recent elections, and announced that it will seek additional budget cuts of a million by the end of the year. voters showed strong reluctance to further tax increases to balance the budget, passing the initiative recently 1053, re-establishing the obligation of two-thirds vote of the legislature to raise taxes, and ‘ Initiative 1107, which repeals a tax on bottled water and soft drinks. Therefore, voters rejected the 1098 initiative that would impose a tax on income from the state. Among the programs Gregoire is considering reductions may be based health plan. The governor said he is open to the idea of ​​a one day special session if there is no agreement with the leaders of the legislation on fast action.