State News: Overrides, Cuts And Fraud

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Dentistry;  Eye Health / Blindness;  Public Health
Article Date: 22 Jul 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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The Connecticut legislature used its override in both chambers to undo seven vetoes by the governor, including one to cover most Connecticut residents, called SustiNet, The Hartford Courant reports: "Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney said that healthcare, 'in many ways, has become a cloud of worry'' over much of society. SustiNet's nine-member board of directors will study the issue (covering people and cost) for 17 months before giving its recommendations to the legislature in January 2011" (Keating, 7/20).

Los Angeles Times: "Routine teeth cleanings, optometric exams, podiatric care and some mental health visits -- all are among the services no longer paid for, as of July 1, for Californians covered by Medi-Cal." (Lunzer Kritz, 7/20).

The Chattanooga Times Free Press: "According to authorities, 'doctor-shopping' -- when patients visit several doctors to acquire multiple prescriptions for various drugs -- is an ever-growing problem in Tennessee. In the last year, authorities have investigated 75 doctor-shopping cases in Tennessee and six in Hamilton County, according to the office of the Tennessee Inspector General, which handles such cases involving TennCare" (South, 7/21).

The Associated Press: "[Louisiana] Gov. Bobby Jindal says he hopes to work out a solution with federal officials over Louisiana's looming $1 billion Medicaid problem stemming from post-storm damage payments following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. … As a result of insurance payments and Road Home money, Louisiana has had a sharp increase in its per-capita income. But Jindal says that doesn't reflect the number of people who need the Medicaid program" (7/20).

This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org.

© Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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