Medicaid

May 22, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that by a vote of 75-22, the US Senate passed the domestic funding portion of the emergency supplemental bill that included an amendment to extend the current one year moratorium on a Medicaid rule regarding public health care providers that would have cut up to $255 million a year in federal funding to Illinois’ Medicaid program, including $179 million to Cook County.

This is the second time Durbin was able to extend the moratorium. The extension of the moratorium is until April 1, 2009 and was passed with a veto proof majority.    » read more »

Urges Illinois Congressional delegation to vote to halt implementation; joins other governors in support of legal challenge to Bush rules

April 23, 2008 -- Families USA report estimates Bush Medicaid rules would cost Illinois $487 million in first year alone in addition to job loss and economic decline

CHICAGO – Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today sent a letter urging members of the Illinois Congressional delegation to support a moratorium on the Bush Administration’s proposed changes to the Medicaid program when the issue comes up for a vote in the U.S. House later today.    » read more »

04/23/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008," which will delay for one year the implementation of numerous federal Medicaid regulations:

"I applaud the House of Representatives for voting on a bipartisan basis to protect medical services for vulnerable Californians and reimbursements to safety net and teaching hospitals, local governments, school districts, and numerous state agencies.    » read more »

Pennsylvania to Lose More than $560 Million in Medicaid Funding over Next Two Years if Administration’s Medicaid Rule Changes Are Allowed to Stand

Washington, D.C. — Medicaid rule changes put in place by the Bush Administration will cost Pennsylvania more than $560 million in federal funds over the next two years. The cut in federal funding will, in fact, act like a giant anti-stimulus package.

George W. Bush protesters: Photo by Robb Wilson (CC)

Those lost Medicaid funds will eliminate an estimated 5,800 jobs and an accompanying $221.4 million in wages, and cost the state an estimated $645.2 million in lost business activity.    » read more »

Multi-State Suit Seeks to Overturn Rule that Hurts Needy Patients

April 16, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that New York is joining a number of other states in suing the federal government over a newly implemented federal Medicaid rule. The new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rule will sharply limit New York’s ability to provide case management to vulnerable populations throughout the state.    » read more »

04/16/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on a bipartisan basis, voted to delay the implementation of seven major Medicaid regulations:

"I have worked with members of California's Congressional Delegation and governors from across the nation in calling for a suspension in these rules to allow a more thorough review by Congress.

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Photo courtesy California Governor's office

If these rules move forward as envisioned, more than $12 billion in federal Medicaid payments to California would be at risk over the next five years.    » read more »

April 2, 2008 -- "The full results of the study released today, showing that Vytorin had no effect on heart disease, put the lie to Merck and Schering-Plough’s $200 million advertising campaign urging Americans to take this drug.

While these corporations profited, Americans were left in the dark. The millions who take this drug, taxpayers who subsidize its use through the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and Merck and Schering-Plough’s investors deserve to know why it took so long for the results to be made public.

This new information underscores our concerns and advances our investigation, which we will pursue aggressively."

Source: New York Attorney General

March 28, 2008 -- College students face challenges obtaining health insurance--they may not have access to insurance through an employer, and as they get older, they may lose dependent coverage obtained through a parent's plan. Federal law ensures continued access to health insurance for some, but not all, such students. Without health insurance, college students may be unable to pay for their health care, and the cost of this care may be passed on to federal and state payers, such as Medicaid. College students may have access to student insurance plans offered by their colleges.    » read more »

CMS Web Site Features Updated and More Robust Information to Help Consumers with Their Health Care Choices

Friday, March 28, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), today posted new survey information at the Hospital Compare consumer Web site offering consumers more insight about the hospitals in their communities.    » read more »

Unit investigated more than 1450 abuse, neglect and fraudulent billing cases

March 27, 2008 -- (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) – Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) investigators recovered a record $14 million for the Medicaid Program in 2007 announced Carter today. The Unit also completed 219 fraudulent billing cases and 1235 abuse and neglect cases in 2007.    » read more »

March 28, 2008 -- McDonough -- Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker announced today that the Henry County Grand Jury has returned Medicaid Fraud indictments against two Medicaid providers in unrelated cases. Tina Webster-Fabayo owned and operated two mental health service companies, Med Path Professional Services and One Youth House, in Stockbridge, Georgia from late 2004 through 2007.    » read more »

Massachusetts Leads Investigation Resulting in $36.7 Million Settlement with the U.S. Government, 23 States and the District of Columbia

March 18, 2008 -- BOSTON – Today, the Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, along with federal authorities, 23 other states, and the District of Columbia, entered into a settlement agreement with CVS/Caremark Corporation to settle allegations of billing improprieties.    » read more »

CVS/Caremark to Pay More Than $800,000 to Maryland’s Medicaid Program

BALTIMORE, MD (March 18, 2008) – Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today announced a $36.7 million federal and multistate settlement with CVS/Caremark Corporation to resolve allegations of improper billing. The payment, of which Maryland’s Medicaid Program will receive $830,490, resolves claims that CVS violated state and federal statutes and regulations by switching dosage forms of ranitidine, an antacid medication commonly prescribed for Medicaid patients.    » read more »

March 18, 2008 -- Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway announced today that Kentucky will receive a $1.36 million settlement from CVS Caremark Corporation for defrauding the state Medicaid program.    » read more »

March 18, 2008 -- (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) - CVS/Caremark Corporation has agreed to pay $1,406,120 to the Indiana Medicaid Program to settle allegations of improper billing announced Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter today. The payment is part of a $36.7 million settlement with the United States, 23 states and the District of Columbia and resolves claims that CVS pharmacies systemically switched the dosage form of ranitidine from tablet-form to the capsule-form of the drug. The CVS will repay Indiana $513,962 for the state’s share of the Medicaid loss.    » read more »