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Medicaid News & Information
Former HHS Secretary Wants Feds to Take Over
Medicaid for Elderly
Some say he may have financial benefit it the idea
catches on
August 8, 2006 – The former secretary of Health &
Human Services, Tommy Thompson, has proposed that the long-term care of
the elderly in Medicaid by managed by the federal government, without
participation of the states, which should focus on those under age 65.
Today's KaiserNet.org daily report says, however, that Thompson could
have a financial benefit in this plan. This is just one of today's
stories in the report on health care.
 Companies
With Ties to Former HHS Secretary Thompson Could Benefit From His
Proposed Medicaid Changes, Critics Charge
Former
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson's Medicaid overhaul proposal, announced
last week, could benefit several companies that employ him, the
Washington Post reports (Lee, Washington Post, 8/8).
Thompson's proposal would shift responsibility for
long-term care of elderly Medicaid beneficiaries from joint state and
federal funding to the federal government and would have states focus on
acute care for Medicaid beneficiaries younger than 65.
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In addition, Thompson's plan calls for Medicaid to
begin using electronic health records and other technologies to improve
case management and health information collection. Thompson also
recommended that Medicaid beneficiaries receive education on health
literacy and disease prevention.
According to Thompson, his plan would result in
long-term savings that states could use to provide health insurance for
more uninsured residents, in some cases through subsidies for private
coverage (Kaiser
Daily Health Policy Report, 8/3).
Thompson has "shopped many of the ideas around for
years," but critics say that some of his recommendations now "could be
good for companies that he works for," the Post reports.
Thompson is on the board of St. Louis-based
Centene, which operates Medicaid-funded HMOs in seven states.
Thompson also is chair of the
Deloitte Center for Health Solutions -- part of Deloitte & Touche
that advises states on their Medicaid programs -- and is a partner at
the law firm
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, which has health and insurance
industry clients.
According to the Post, if Thompson "becomes a
driving force behind revamping Medicaid," states that hire those
companies might "feel they are contracting with a player." Thompson also
is part owner and a board member of
VeriChip -- a maker of implantable microchips -- which "might
benefit if Medicaid were to embrace electronic medical records," the
Post reports.
Thompson Comments
Thompson in a statement said, "When I was governor of Wisconsin in the
mid-1980s, I witnessed first hand how this program was placing an
enormous financial burden on my state and others, as well as how
inefficient Medicaid was in meeting the needs of those who rely on it."
Thompson added that his goal is to "initiate a meaningful dialogue with
Medicaid's various stakeholders to assure that this program doesn't
unravel in the coming years" (Washington Post, 8/8).
More from the Kaiser Daily Report
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2007 Medicare Physician Payment Rate To Be Released Soon; CMS
Administrator McClellan Says Government Could Make Structural Changes to
System
Prescription Drugs
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JAMA Publicizing Authors' Failure To Disclose Conflicts of Interest,
Editorial Says
●
Pharmacy Drug Making for Hospitals Under Scrutiny After Deaths of
Patients From 'Compounded' Medications
Medicaid
●
Colorado Children Without Private Insurance Have Higher Mortality Rate
●
D.C. Lawsuit Seeking To Block Medicaid Citizenship Requirements Dropped
Coverage & Access
●
Several Companies Trying To Boost Use, Efficiency of Internet for Health
Information
●
Some Hospitals Use 'Mystery Shoppers' To Test Quality of Care
●
Many People Unaware of Need for Cancer Screenings, Survey Says
●
Research Donation From Contractor Raises Concern at Cleveland Clinic
●
Boston Hospitals Work To Boost Minority Employment
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