Federal health officials estimate that the struggling economy will speed up by one to three years the exhaustion of the Medicare trust fund covering hospital and nursing home care. Trustees for the Social Security and Medicare programs warned in March that the trust fund for Medicare Part A would become insolvent in 2019. But the chief actuary for Medicare said the economy will likely generate less revenue through payroll taxes than the trustees had projected.
Louisiana lawmakers have received their first extensive look at Gov. Bobby Jindal's healthcare proposal, as members of the state House questioned the timing and cost of a sweeping plan to revamp how the state delivers and pays for healthcare to the poor. Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine joined representatives from private hospitals, insurers, doctors, and Louisiana State University in a day-long briefing on the "Louisiana Health First" initiative. "This is the first step as we move toward the regular session," House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Algiers, said.
The outgoing Bush administration is planning to announce a broad new "right of conscience" rule permitting medical facilities, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers to refuse to participate in any procedure they find morally objectionable. For more than 30 years, federal law has dictated that doctors and nurses may refuse to perform abortions. The new rule would go further by making clear that healthcare workers also may refuse to provide information or advice to patients who might want an abortion. It also seeks to cover more employees.
A former employee of UCLA Medical Center has pleaded guilty to selling information from the medical records of celebrities and high-profile patients to the National Enquirer. Lawanda Jackson faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Jackson worked as an administrative specialist at the UCLA hospitals for 32 years and in recent years began using her supervisor's password to access medical records inappropriately, authorities said.
An employee at New York Presbyterian Hospital was suspended for failing to report the gunshot wound of NFL star Plaxico Burress, said a hospital spokeswoman. "We can confirm that the individual at New York Presbyterian Hospital, who was responsible for failing to report the incident, has been suspended," hospital spokeswoman Kathy Robinson said. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg also lashed out at New York Presbyterian for failing to inform police about the incident. He called on the state attorney general to "go after" the hospital for a "chargeable offense."
Thailand's Constitutional Court dissolved the ruling party this week amid findings of electoral fraud by the country's prime minister. This puts an end to a week-long blockade at Bangkok's airports by anti-government protesters.