Two lawmakers filed a bill that would phase out the two-year waiting period for the government to review whether individual disabled people qualify for Medicare. The legislation sponsored by Rep. Gene Green and Sen. Jeff Bingaman would eliminate the waiting period gradually over 10 years. The bill would also allow those with life-threatening illnesses to get coverage immediately.
Healthcare Realty Trust Inc. of Nashville will soon purchase 15 hospital building in the Charlotte, N.C. region at a cost of $162 million. The buildings are currently owned by Carolinas HealthCare System.
About half of New Jersey seniors who are eligible to enroll in Medicare Part D have joined the program, according to federal figures. The state's participation rate for the prescription drug benefit program lags behind the national figure of approximately 56%. Out of 1.26 million state Medicare beneficiaries eligible to participate, about 648,000 have signed up.
Minnesota leaders persuaded the federal government to renew a waiver that will allow the state's MinnesotaCare program to cover parents of children in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The waiver will allow about 18,000 low-income parents to maintain their MinnesotaCare coverage. Minnesota leaders argued that children in low-income families are more likely to get appropriate medical care when their parents also have insurance. Under the new decision, Medicaid will pay for coverage of parents rather than SCHIP.
Healthcare advocates plan to unveil an ambitious $15.5 billion proposal for universal healthcare in Maryland that would increase payroll taxes to pay for coverage for low-income residents and create a quasi-governmental insurance pool. The Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, with health policy experts from the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, crafted the proposal. The groups plan to build a coalition of labor unions, faith groups, and community organizations.
Physicians, counselors, social workers, and parents criticized the Mo HealthNet managed care plan during a hearing at the Missouri State House. The state legislature is holding hearings to consider the benefits and drawbacks of converting up to 21 southwest Missouri counties from traditional Mo HealthNet fee-for-service benefits to managed care plans.