News Briefs
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Medicaid enrollees get DRA exemption
Medicaid enrollees and applicants who receive Medicare or Supplemental Security Income benefits have been exempted from a Deficit Reduction Act provision requiring Medicaid beneficiaries to prove they are U.S. citizens.
The exemption, which affects roughly 8 million of the nation's 55 million Medicaid enrollees, is one of several changes to earlier guidelines that were announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in an interim final rule.
Among other changes, the rule allows states to accept database matches with state records for individuals whose citizenship was put on file when they applied for other services, such as food stamps or a driver's license, which could exempt more people, according to CMS.
The American Hospital Association and other groups have expressed concern that the earlier guidelines would place an unreasonable burden on elderly, mentally impaired, and other vulnerable patients who would have difficulty documenting their citizenship.
Settlement reached in sign language suit
The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced that a settlement had been reached in a lawsuit alleging that Laurel (MD) Regional Hospital did not appropriately respond on several occasions to requests to provide sign language interpreters or other aids for deaf or hearing-impaired patients or their companions.
Under the consent degree, the hospital agreed to assess the communication needs of individuals with speech or hearing impairments on arrival or when an appointment is scheduled; provide qualified interpreters as soon as possible when necessary for effective communication; provide auxiliary aids to patients and companions when needed; and meet certain standards for video interpreting services.
A Laurel spokeswoman told AHA News Now, an on-line news service, that the hospital has implemented a new system for the hearing impaired and is making an effort to ensure that employees understand the needs and rights of the hearing impaired.
More workers in plans with hospital copays
The percentage of workers enrolled in employer-sponsored health plans that required a copayment for hospital care increased by more than 60% between 1999 and 2003, to 54.7%, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports.
According to the agency's Medical Expenditure Panel Survey of private-sector employers, the share of workers whose plans required hospital copayments ranging from $150 to $400 doubled, to 21%, while those whose plans did not require hospital copayments fell by nearly a third, to 45.3%.
States move toward eHealth data exchange
Twenty-eight states are developing plans for electronic health information exchange and seven states have begun to implement such plans, according to early results from the latest annual survey by eHealth Initiative.
As part of its 2006 Third Annual Survey of Health Information Exchange Initiatives and Organizations, the eHealth Initiative took a special look at health information technology and health information exchange planning and implementation activities at the state level — building on its experiences supporting 21 states across the nation with technical assistance. The full survey report will be released Sept. 25.
In most cases, the governor's office or state health department is leading the state's health information technology (HIT) efforts. About half of U.S. states have an executive order or legislative mandate designed to stimulate the use of HIT, and 17 states are providing funds to support regional and local efforts, the organization said.
Increasingly, state leaders are recognizing that information technology can help address many health care challenges, such as rising costs, decreasing Medicaid reimbursement, and concerns about quality and safety, the survey indicates.
Eighty-eight percent of state leaders cite concerns about quality in health care as a significant driver, and 86% cite concerns about patient safety as a significant driver.
Medicaid enrollees and applicants who receive Medicare or Supplemental Security Income benefits have been exempted from a Deficit Reduction Act provision requiring Medicaid beneficiaries to prove they are U.S. citizens.Subscribe Now for Access
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