Frances Correa

Deaths from prescription drug overdose rose 84% in Florida from 2003 to 2009, based on data from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.

The greatest increases in death rates were seen in users of oxycodone (265%), alprazolam (234%), and methadone (79%), standing in stark contrast to a decline in cocaine-related deaths (39% from 2007 to 2009) and heroin-related deaths (62% from 2003 to 2009). In 2009, the number of prescription drug–related deaths (13.4/100,000 people) in Florida was four times the amount of deaths from illicit drugs (3.4/100,000), according to the data reported July 7 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The total number of Florida drug-overdose deaths in 2003-2009 was 16,550. Of those, 86% were ruled as unintentional by the medical examiners’ office, 11% were ruled suicides, 3% were described as of undetermined intent, and less than 1% were ruled homicides or pending (numbers do not add to 100% due to rounding).

The Florida data were described as "more timely and specific" than national data derived from death certificates, according to the report.

"These findings indicate a need to strengthen interventions aimed at reducing overdose deaths from prescription drugs in Florida," wrote Bruce Goldberger, Ph.D., of the University of Florida, Gainesville, and his colleagues (MMWR 2011 July 8; 60;26:869-72), who noted that similar trends in drug-related overdose deaths have been reported by the Kentucky Office of the State Medical Examiner.

The authors pointed out a large increase in the number of pain clinics operating in Florida "that prescribe large quantities of oxycodone and alprazolam, some of which is ultimately used for nonmedical purposes." Some of the customers of these clinics travel from Appalachian states including Kentucky to purchase drugs for resale, according to grand jury findings in Broward County, Fla.

The report calls on states to institute drug-monitoring systems, tighten restrictions on pain clinics, and regulate wholesale distributors of frequently abused prescription drugs.

Deaths from prescription drug overdose rose 84% in Florida from 2003 to 2009, based on data from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.

The greatest increases in death rates were seen in users of oxycodone (265%), alprazolam (234%), and methadone (79%), standing in stark contrast to a decline in cocaine-related deaths (39% from 2007 to 2009) and heroin-related deaths (62% from 2003 to 2009). In 2009, the number of prescription drug–related deaths (13.4/100,000 people) in Florida was four times the amount of deaths from illicit drugs (3.4/100,000), according to the data reported July 7 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The total number of Florida drug-overdose deaths in 2003-2009 was 16,550. Of those, 86% were ruled as unintentional by the medical examiners’ office, 11% were ruled suicides, 3% were described as of undetermined intent, and less than 1% were ruled homicides or pending (numbers do not add to 100% due to rounding).

The Florida data were described as "more timely and specific" than national data derived from death certificates, according to the report.

"These findings indicate a need to strengthen interventions aimed at reducing overdose deaths from prescription drugs in Florida," wrote Bruce Goldberger, Ph.D., of the University of Florida, Gainesville, and his colleagues (MMWR 2011 July 8; 60;26:869-72), who noted that similar trends in drug-related overdose deaths have been reported by the Kentucky Office of the State Medical Examiner.

The authors pointed out a large increase in the number of pain clinics operating in Florida "that prescribe large quantities of oxycodone and alprazolam, some of which is ultimately used for nonmedical purposes." Some of the customers of these clinics travel from Appalachian states including Kentucky to purchase drugs for resale, according to grand jury findings in Broward County, Fla.

The report calls on states to institute drug-monitoring systems, tighten restrictions on pain clinics, and regulate wholesale distributors of frequently abused prescription drugs.

Deaths from prescription drug overdose rose 84% in Florida from 2003 to 2009, based on data from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.

The greatest increases in death rates were seen in users of oxycodone (265%), alprazolam (234%), and methadone (79%), standing in stark contrast to a decline in cocaine-related deaths (39% from 2007 to 2009) and heroin-related deaths (62% from 2003 to 2009). In 2009, the number of prescription drug–related deaths (13.4/100,000 people) in Florida was four times the amount of deaths from illicit drugs (3.4/100,000), according to the data reported July 7 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The total number of Florida drug-overdose deaths in 2003-2009 was 16,550. Of those, 86% were ruled as unintentional by the medical examiners’ office, 11% were ruled suicides, 3% were described as of undetermined intent, and less than 1% were ruled homicides or pending (numbers do not add to 100% due to rounding).

The Florida data were described as "more timely and specific" than national data derived from death certificates, according to the report.

"These findings indicate a need to strengthen interventions aimed at reducing overdose deaths from prescription drugs in Florida," wrote Bruce Goldberger, Ph.D., of the University of Florida, Gainesville, and his colleagues (MMWR 2011 July 8; 60;26:869-72), who noted that similar trends in drug-related overdose deaths have been reported by the Kentucky Office of the State Medical Examiner.

The authors pointed out a large increase in the number of pain clinics operating in Florida "that prescribe large quantities of oxycodone and alprazolam, some of which is ultimately used for nonmedical purposes." Some of the customers of these clinics travel from Appalachian states including Kentucky to purchase drugs for resale, according to grand jury findings in Broward County, Fla.

The report calls on states to institute drug-monitoring systems, tighten restrictions on pain clinics, and regulate wholesale distributors of frequently abused prescription drugs.

Deaths from prescription drug overdose rose 84% in Florida from 2003 to 2009, based on data from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.

The greatest increases in death rates were seen in users of oxycodone (265%), alprazolam (234%), and methadone (79%), standing in stark contrast to a decline in cocaine-related deaths (39% from 2007 to 2009) and heroin-related deaths (62% from 2003 to 2009). In 2009, the number of prescription drug–related deaths (13.4/100,000 people) in Florida was four times the amount of deaths from illicit drugs (3.4/100,000), according to the data reported July 7 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The total number of Florida drug-overdose deaths in 2003-2009 was 16,550. Of those, 86% were ruled as unintentional by the medical examiners’ office, 11% were ruled suicides, 3% were described as of undetermined intent, and less than 1% were ruled homicides or pending (numbers do not add to 100% due to rounding).

The Florida data were described as "more timely and specific" than national data derived from death certificates, according to the report.

"These findings indicate a need to strengthen interventions aimed at reducing overdose deaths from prescription drugs in Florida," wrote Bruce Goldberger, Ph.D., of the University of Florida, Gainesville, and his colleagues (MMWR 2011 July 8; 60;26:869-72), who noted that similar trends in drug-related overdose deaths have been reported by the Kentucky Office of the State Medical Examiner.

The authors pointed out a large increase in the number of pain clinics operating in Florida "that prescribe large quantities of oxycodone and alprazolam, some of which is ultimately used for nonmedical purposes." Some of the customers of these clinics travel from Appalachian states including Kentucky to purchase drugs for resale, according to grand jury findings in Broward County, Fla.

The report calls on states to institute drug-monitoring systems, tighten restrictions on pain clinics, and regulate wholesale distributors of frequently abused prescription drugs.

Deaths from prescription drug overdose rose 84% in Florida from 2003 to 2009, based on data from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.

The greatest increases in death rates were seen in users of oxycodone (265%), alprazolam (234%), and methadone (79%), standing in stark contrast to a decline in cocaine-related deaths (39% from 2007 to 2009) and heroin-related deaths (62% from 2003 to 2009). In 2009, the number of prescription drug–related deaths (13.4/100,000 people) in Florida was four times the amount of deaths from illicit drugs (3.4/100,000), according to the data reported July 7 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The total number of Florida drug-overdose deaths in 2003-2009 was 16,550. Of those, 86% were ruled as unintentional by the medical examiners’ office, 11% were ruled suicides, 3% were described as of undetermined intent, and less than 1% were ruled homicides or pending (numbers do not add to 100% due to rounding).

The Florida data were described as "more timely and specific" than national data derived from death certificates, according to the report.

"These findings indicate a need to strengthen interventions aimed at reducing overdose deaths from prescription drugs in Florida," wrote Bruce Goldberger, Ph.D., of the University of Florida, Gainesville, and his colleagues (MMWR 2011 July 8; 60;26:869-72), who noted that similar trends in drug-related overdose deaths have been reported by the Kentucky Office of the State Medical Examiner.

The authors pointed out a large increase in the number of pain clinics operating in Florida "that prescribe large quantities of oxycodone and alprazolam, some of which is ultimately used for nonmedical purposes." Some of the customers of these clinics travel from Appalachian states including Kentucky to purchase drugs for resale, according to grand jury findings in Broward County, Fla.

The report calls on states to institute drug-monitoring systems, tighten restrictions on pain clinics, and regulate wholesale distributors of frequently abused prescription drugs.

Deaths from prescription drug overdose rose 84% in Florida from 2003 to 2009, based on data from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.

The greatest increases in death rates were seen in users of oxycodone (265%), alprazolam (234%), and methadone (79%), standing in stark contrast to a decline in cocaine-related deaths (39% from 2007 to 2009) and heroin-related deaths (62% from 2003 to 2009). In 2009, the number of prescription drug–related deaths (13.4/100,000 people) in Florida was four times the amount of deaths from illicit drugs (3.4/100,000), according to the data reported July 7 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The total number of Florida drug-overdose deaths in 2003-2009 was 16,550. Of those, 86% were ruled as unintentional by the medical examiners’ office, 11% were ruled suicides, 3% were described as of undetermined intent, and less than 1% were ruled homicides or pending (numbers do not add to 100% due to rounding).

The Florida data were described as "more timely and specific" than national data derived from death certificates, according to the report.

"These findings indicate a need to strengthen interventions aimed at reducing overdose deaths from prescription drugs in Florida," wrote Bruce Goldberger, Ph.D., of the University of Florida, Gainesville, and his colleagues (MMWR 2011 July 8; 60;26:869-72), who noted that similar trends in drug-related overdose deaths have been reported by the Kentucky Office of the State Medical Examiner.

The authors pointed out a large increase in the number of pain clinics operating in Florida "that prescribe large quantities of oxycodone and alprazolam, some of which is ultimately used for nonmedical purposes." Some of the customers of these clinics travel from Appalachian states including Kentucky to purchase drugs for resale, according to grand jury findings in Broward County, Fla.

The report calls on states to institute drug-monitoring systems, tighten restrictions on pain clinics, and regulate wholesale distributors of frequently abused prescription drugs.

Deaths from prescription drug overdose rose 84% in Florida from 2003 to 2009, based on data from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.

The greatest increases in death rates were seen in users of oxycodone (265%), alprazolam (234%), and methadone (79%), standing in stark contrast to a decline in cocaine-related deaths (39% from 2007 to 2009) and heroin-related deaths (62% from 2003 to 2009). In 2009, the number of prescription drug–related deaths (13.4/100,000 people) in Florida was four times the amount of deaths from illicit drugs (3.4/100,000), according to the data reported July 7 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The total number of Florida drug-overdose deaths in 2003-2009 was 16,550. Of those, 86% were ruled as unintentional by the medical examiners’ office, 11% were ruled suicides, 3% were described as of undetermined intent, and less than 1% were ruled homicides or pending (numbers do not add to 100% due to rounding).

The Florida data were described as "more timely and specific" than national data derived from death certificates, according to the report.

"These findings indicate a need to strengthen interventions aimed at reducing overdose deaths from prescription drugs in Florida," wrote Bruce Goldberger, Ph.D., of the University of Florida, Gainesville, and his colleagues (MMWR 2011 July 8; 60;26:869-72), who noted that similar trends in drug-related overdose deaths have been reported by the Kentucky Office of the State Medical Examiner.

The authors pointed out a large increase in the number of pain clinics operating in Florida "that prescribe large quantities of oxycodone and alprazolam, some of which is ultimately used for nonmedical purposes." Some of the customers of these clinics travel from Appalachian states including Kentucky to purchase drugs for resale, according to grand jury findings in Broward County, Fla.

The report calls on states to institute drug-monitoring systems, tighten restrictions on pain clinics, and regulate wholesale distributors of frequently abused prescription drugs.

Deaths from prescription drug overdose rose 84% in Florida from 2003 to 2009, based on data from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.

The greatest increases in death rates were seen in users of oxycodone (265%), alprazolam (234%), and methadone (79%), standing in stark contrast to a decline in cocaine-related deaths (39% from 2007 to 2009) and heroin-related deaths (62% from 2003 to 2009). In 2009, the number of prescription drug–related deaths (13.4/100,000 people) in Florida was four times the amount of deaths from illicit drugs (3.4/100,000), according to the data reported July 7 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The total number of Florida drug-overdose deaths in 2003-2009 was 16,550. Of those, 86% were ruled as unintentional by the medical examiners’ office, 11% were ruled suicides, 3% were described as of undetermined intent, and less than 1% were ruled homicides or pending (numbers do not add to 100% due to rounding).

The Florida data were described as "more timely and specific" than national data derived from death certificates, according to the report.

"These findings indicate a need to strengthen interventions aimed at reducing overdose deaths from prescription drugs in Florida," wrote Bruce Goldberger, Ph.D., of the University of Florida, Gainesville, and his colleagues (MMWR 2011 July 8; 60;26:869-72), who noted that similar trends in drug-related overdose deaths have been reported by the Kentucky Office of the State Medical Examiner.

The authors pointed out a large increase in the number of pain clinics operating in Florida "that prescribe large quantities of oxycodone and alprazolam, some of which is ultimately used for nonmedical purposes." Some of the customers of these clinics travel from Appalachian states including Kentucky to purchase drugs for resale, according to grand jury findings in Broward County, Fla.

The report calls on states to institute drug-monitoring systems, tighten restrictions on pain clinics, and regulate wholesale distributors of frequently abused prescription drugs.

Deaths from prescription drug overdose rose 84% in Florida from 2003 to 2009, based on data from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.

The greatest increases in death rates were seen in users of oxycodone (265%), alprazolam (234%), and methadone (79%), standing in stark contrast to a decline in cocaine-related deaths (39% from 2007 to 2009) and heroin-related deaths (62% from 2003 to 2009). In 2009, the number of prescription drug–related deaths (13.4/100,000 people) in Florida was four times the amount of deaths from illicit drugs (3.4/100,000), according to the data reported July 7 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The total number of Florida drug-overdose deaths in 2003-2009 was 16,550. Of those, 86% were ruled as unintentional by the medical examiners’ office, 11% were ruled suicides, 3% were described as of undetermined intent, and less than 1% were ruled homicides or pending (numbers do not add to 100% due to rounding).

The Florida data were described as "more timely and specific" than national data derived from death certificates, according to the report.

"These findings indicate a need to strengthen interventions aimed at reducing overdose deaths from prescription drugs in Florida," wrote Bruce Goldberger, Ph.D., of the University of Florida, Gainesville, and his colleagues (MMWR 2011 July 8; 60;26:869-72), who noted that similar trends in drug-related overdose deaths have been reported by the Kentucky Office of the State Medical Examiner.

The authors pointed out a large increase in the number of pain clinics operating in Florida "that prescribe large quantities of oxycodone and alprazolam, some of which is ultimately used for nonmedical purposes." Some of the customers of these clinics travel from Appalachian states including Kentucky to purchase drugs for resale, according to grand jury findings in Broward County, Fla.

The report calls on states to institute drug-monitoring systems, tighten restrictions on pain clinics, and regulate wholesale distributors of frequently abused prescription drugs.

Major Finding: The use of electronic health records cut Kaiser Permanente's use of paper by 1,373 tons annually. The system also decreased energy use by 3.3–10 million gallons of gasoline by reducing medical visits.

Data Source: Based on a 2011 internal analysis.

Disclosures: All seven researchers are employees of Kaiser Permanente.

Greater use of electronic health records would cut greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, waste and toxic chemical production, and water consumption, according to a study by Marianne C. Turley, Ph.D., and her associates at Kaiser Permanente.

After factoring in the additional energy consumption from the increased use of personal computers, the overall net effect on the environment would be favorable, the researchers concluded based on an analysis of the impact of the Kaiser Permanente EHR system, which covers 8.7 million beneficiaries.

Annually, the Kaiser EHR system eliminated the use of 1,373 tons of paper by discontinuing the use of paper medical charts, x-ray jackets, and administrative forms. The system decreased annual gas consumption by an estimated 3.3–10 million gallons by cutting the number of visits by 4–13 million. Patients could correspond with their providers about nonemergency concerns through secure e-mail messages (Health Aff. 2011;30:938-46).

Switching from desktop to laptop computers saved 89,300 megawatt hours and digitizing x-rays eliminated the waste of 203 tons of plastic and 79 tons of toxic chemicals. Using the Environmental Protection Agency's greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator, Dr. Turley and her associates estimated that Kaiser's efforts reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 9,200 tons.

Results were based on data from regional operational reports, paper-purchasing records, and internal pharmaceutical reports. Travel was estimated by calculating the distance from patient addresses to Kaiser-participating primary care buildings and aggregating them by region.

The Kaiser study showed that “the use of electronic health records can both change the face of health care and help reduce its environmental footprint,” the researchers wrote.

Despite these findings, Dr. Turley and her associates said that the environmental impact of switching to electronic health records will vary from system to system. As the Affordable Care Act calls for implementation of electronic systems, they said further analysis is necessary to determine the impacts of widespread implementation.

Although 51% of office-based physicians are currently using an electronic system, only 10% of practices reported their systems as being fully functioning, according to the most recent evaluation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even so, implementation of electronic systems will probably increase as provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 create incentives for providers. Public and private investment in these systems is expected to reach $40 billion in the next several years, according to the investigators.

Major Finding: The use of electronic health records cut Kaiser Permanente's use of paper by 1,373 tons annually. The system also decreased energy use by 3.3–10 million gallons of gasoline by reducing medical visits.

Data Source: Based on a 2011 internal analysis.

Disclosures: All seven researchers are employees of Kaiser Permanente.

Greater use of electronic health records would cut greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, waste and toxic chemical production, and water consumption, according to a study by Marianne C. Turley, Ph.D., and her associates at Kaiser Permanente.

After factoring in the additional energy consumption from the increased use of personal computers, the overall net effect on the environment would be favorable, the researchers concluded based on an analysis of the impact of the Kaiser Permanente EHR system, which covers 8.7 million beneficiaries.

Annually, the Kaiser EHR system eliminated the use of 1,373 tons of paper by discontinuing the use of paper medical charts, x-ray jackets, and administrative forms. The system decreased annual gas consumption by an estimated 3.3–10 million gallons by cutting the number of visits by 4–13 million. Patients could correspond with their providers about nonemergency concerns through secure e-mail messages (Health Aff. 2011;30:938-46).

Switching from desktop to laptop computers saved 89,300 megawatt hours and digitizing x-rays eliminated the waste of 203 tons of plastic and 79 tons of toxic chemicals. Using the Environmental Protection Agency's greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator, Dr. Turley and her associates estimated that Kaiser's efforts reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 9,200 tons.

Results were based on data from regional operational reports, paper-purchasing records, and internal pharmaceutical reports. Travel was estimated by calculating the distance from patient addresses to Kaiser-participating primary care buildings and aggregating them by region.

The Kaiser study showed that “the use of electronic health records can both change the face of health care and help reduce its environmental footprint,” the researchers wrote.

Despite these findings, Dr. Turley and her associates said that the environmental impact of switching to electronic health records will vary from system to system. As the Affordable Care Act calls for implementation of electronic systems, they said further analysis is necessary to determine the impacts of widespread implementation.

Although 51% of office-based physicians are currently using an electronic system, only 10% of practices reported their systems as being fully functioning, according to the most recent evaluation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even so, implementation of electronic systems will probably increase as provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 create incentives for providers. Public and private investment in these systems is expected to reach $40 billion in the next several years, according to the investigators.

Major Finding: The use of electronic health records cut Kaiser Permanente's use of paper by 1,373 tons annually. The system also decreased energy use by 3.3–10 million gallons of gasoline by reducing medical visits.

Data Source: Based on a 2011 internal analysis.

Disclosures: All seven researchers are employees of Kaiser Permanente.

Greater use of electronic health records would cut greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, waste and toxic chemical production, and water consumption, according to a study by Marianne C. Turley, Ph.D., and her associates at Kaiser Permanente.

After factoring in the additional energy consumption from the increased use of personal computers, the overall net effect on the environment would be favorable, the researchers concluded based on an analysis of the impact of the Kaiser Permanente EHR system, which covers 8.7 million beneficiaries.

Annually, the Kaiser EHR system eliminated the use of 1,373 tons of paper by discontinuing the use of paper medical charts, x-ray jackets, and administrative forms. The system decreased annual gas consumption by an estimated 3.3–10 million gallons by cutting the number of visits by 4–13 million. Patients could correspond with their providers about nonemergency concerns through secure e-mail messages (Health Aff. 2011;30:938-46).

Switching from desktop to laptop computers saved 89,300 megawatt hours and digitizing x-rays eliminated the waste of 203 tons of plastic and 79 tons of toxic chemicals. Using the Environmental Protection Agency's greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator, Dr. Turley and her associates estimated that Kaiser's efforts reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 9,200 tons.

Results were based on data from regional operational reports, paper-purchasing records, and internal pharmaceutical reports. Travel was estimated by calculating the distance from patient addresses to Kaiser-participating primary care buildings and aggregating them by region.

The Kaiser study showed that “the use of electronic health records can both change the face of health care and help reduce its environmental footprint,” the researchers wrote.

Despite these findings, Dr. Turley and her associates said that the environmental impact of switching to electronic health records will vary from system to system. As the Affordable Care Act calls for implementation of electronic systems, they said further analysis is necessary to determine the impacts of widespread implementation.

Although 51% of office-based physicians are currently using an electronic system, only 10% of practices reported their systems as being fully functioning, according to the most recent evaluation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even so, implementation of electronic systems will probably increase as provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 create incentives for providers. Public and private investment in these systems is expected to reach $40 billion in the next several years, according to the investigators.

Sharing information and coordinating care for elderly and disabled patients who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid could save millions of health care dollars every year, according to Health and Human Services department officials.

To jump-start efforts in this area, the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office – which was created by the Affordable Care Act – now seeks to provide state Medicaid agencies with access to Medicare data on these so-called “dual eligible” patients.

Data on services paid for by Medicare Parts A, B, and D will now be available on a monthly basis and at no cost to state Medicaid agencies, HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius said at the briefing.

“With this new data initiative, we're giving states a fuller picture of the health needs of the people they're serving so they can provide the best care possible,” Ms. Sebelius said.

For example, she commented, by sharing data on hospitalizations and prescription regimens, physicians and other health care providers can seek to prevent readmissions as well as help to ensure that patients are taking their medications appropriately.

In another effort, the coordination office is seeking input on how to best align Medicare and Medicaid to provide both comprehensive and nonduplicative care for beneficiaries with dual eligibility.

“These are chronically ill individuals who are old enough to qualify for Medicare and usually poor enough to qualify for Medicaid and [are] in very difficult health situations, but the systems have not talked to each other at all,” Ms. Sebelius said.

The office has published a notice for public comment in the Federal Register seeking input about how to align care coordination, prescription drugs, cost-sharing, fee-for-service benefits, enrollment, and appeals between the two care payers.

“This is the top priority because it drives the greatest costs, and yet we know if we could work together on this, we could have better health care outcomes for these individuals,” Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D), said during the news conference.

Even as the federal government works to integrate these programs, some members of Congress are calling for the removal of the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid Maintenance of Effort provision as a cost-saving initiative.

Maintenance of Effort requires states to maintain the same Medicaid coverage for adults pending implementation of health reform provisions that go into effect in January 2014. It also maintains coverage for children in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through Sept. 30, 2019.

In response, Ms. Sebelius said Maintenance of Effort and block grants don't hold the greatest potential for savings.

“If the truth be known, the major economic driver for our Medicare costs today … is in the area of dual eligibles,” Ms. Sebelius said.

Currently, 9 million Americans are dual eligibles and account for $300 billion in expenditures for Medicare and Medicaid, Dr. Donald Berwick, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said in a statement.

Dual eligibles represented 39% of Medicaid spending in 2007, according to a CMS statement. Medicaid spent about $120 billion on this group that year, or approximately twice as much as the program spent on the 29 million children it covered.

Medicare data will now be available on a monthly basis and at no cost to state Medicaid agencies.

Source MS. SEBELIUS

Sharing information and coordinating care for elderly and disabled patients who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid could save millions of health care dollars every year, according to Health and Human Services department officials.

To jump-start efforts in this area, the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office – which was created by the Affordable Care Act – now seeks to provide state Medicaid agencies with access to Medicare data on these so-called “dual eligible” patients.

Data on services paid for by Medicare Parts A, B, and D will now be available on a monthly basis and at no cost to state Medicaid agencies, HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius said at the briefing.

“With this new data initiative, we're giving states a fuller picture of the health needs of the people they're serving so they can provide the best care possible,” Ms. Sebelius said.

For example, she commented, by sharing data on hospitalizations and prescription regimens, physicians and other health care providers can seek to prevent readmissions as well as help to ensure that patients are taking their medications appropriately.

In another effort, the coordination office is seeking input on how to best align Medicare and Medicaid to provide both comprehensive and nonduplicative care for beneficiaries with dual eligibility.

“These are chronically ill individuals who are old enough to qualify for Medicare and usually poor enough to qualify for Medicaid and [are] in very difficult health situations, but the systems have not talked to each other at all,” Ms. Sebelius said.

The office has published a notice for public comment in the Federal Register seeking input about how to align care coordination, prescription drugs, cost-sharing, fee-for-service benefits, enrollment, and appeals between the two care payers.

“This is the top priority because it drives the greatest costs, and yet we know if we could work together on this, we could have better health care outcomes for these individuals,” Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D), said during the news conference.

Even as the federal government works to integrate these programs, some members of Congress are calling for the removal of the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid Maintenance of Effort provision as a cost-saving initiative.

Maintenance of Effort requires states to maintain the same Medicaid coverage for adults pending implementation of health reform provisions that go into effect in January 2014. It also maintains coverage for children in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through Sept. 30, 2019.

In response, Ms. Sebelius said Maintenance of Effort and block grants don't hold the greatest potential for savings.

“If the truth be known, the major economic driver for our Medicare costs today … is in the area of dual eligibles,” Ms. Sebelius said.

Currently, 9 million Americans are dual eligibles and account for $300 billion in expenditures for Medicare and Medicaid, Dr. Donald Berwick, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said in a statement.

Dual eligibles represented 39% of Medicaid spending in 2007, according to a CMS statement. Medicaid spent about $120 billion on this group that year, or approximately twice as much as the program spent on the 29 million children it covered.

Medicare data will now be available on a monthly basis and at no cost to state Medicaid agencies.

Source MS. SEBELIUS

Sharing information and coordinating care for elderly and disabled patients who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid could save millions of health care dollars every year, according to Health and Human Services department officials.

To jump-start efforts in this area, the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office – which was created by the Affordable Care Act – now seeks to provide state Medicaid agencies with access to Medicare data on these so-called “dual eligible” patients.

Data on services paid for by Medicare Parts A, B, and D will now be available on a monthly basis and at no cost to state Medicaid agencies, HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius said at the briefing.

“With this new data initiative, we're giving states a fuller picture of the health needs of the people they're serving so they can provide the best care possible,” Ms. Sebelius said.

For example, she commented, by sharing data on hospitalizations and prescription regimens, physicians and other health care providers can seek to prevent readmissions as well as help to ensure that patients are taking their medications appropriately.

In another effort, the coordination office is seeking input on how to best align Medicare and Medicaid to provide both comprehensive and nonduplicative care for beneficiaries with dual eligibility.

“These are chronically ill individuals who are old enough to qualify for Medicare and usually poor enough to qualify for Medicaid and [are] in very difficult health situations, but the systems have not talked to each other at all,” Ms. Sebelius said.

The office has published a notice for public comment in the Federal Register seeking input about how to align care coordination, prescription drugs, cost-sharing, fee-for-service benefits, enrollment, and appeals between the two care payers.

“This is the top priority because it drives the greatest costs, and yet we know if we could work together on this, we could have better health care outcomes for these individuals,” Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D), said during the news conference.

Even as the federal government works to integrate these programs, some members of Congress are calling for the removal of the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid Maintenance of Effort provision as a cost-saving initiative.

Maintenance of Effort requires states to maintain the same Medicaid coverage for adults pending implementation of health reform provisions that go into effect in January 2014. It also maintains coverage for children in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through Sept. 30, 2019.

In response, Ms. Sebelius said Maintenance of Effort and block grants don't hold the greatest potential for savings.

“If the truth be known, the major economic driver for our Medicare costs today … is in the area of dual eligibles,” Ms. Sebelius said.

Currently, 9 million Americans are dual eligibles and account for $300 billion in expenditures for Medicare and Medicaid, Dr. Donald Berwick, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said in a statement.

Dual eligibles represented 39% of Medicaid spending in 2007, according to a CMS statement. Medicaid spent about $120 billion on this group that year, or approximately twice as much as the program spent on the 29 million children it covered.

Medicare data will now be available on a monthly basis and at no cost to state Medicaid agencies.

Source MS. SEBELIUS

A 40% premium cut and simpler enrollment procedures are two changes the federal government is employing to increase enrollment in the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced during a press briefing.

Launched in July 2010 under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) provides an insurance option for people with preexisting conditions who have been denied coverage and have been without insurance for 6 months or more.

To increase awareness for the program, HHS will offer payment for insurance brokers and agents for successfully connecting eligible enrollees with the PCIP program, said Richard Popper, deputy director of insurance programs in the Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight.

Those seeking coverage under the PCIP will no longer have to wait to receive a denial letter from their insurance company to enroll. Instead, they can provide attestation of their condition from their physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Patients with preexisting conditions still will be required to be without insurance for 6 months before they are eligible for coverage under the plan, said Mr. Popper. He added that HHS does not have the authority to waive the 6-month waiting period under the current health law.

Ms. Sebelius emphasized HHS's priority to increase enrollment in the program.

“It's encouraging to see more people who need health insurance the most getting it, but we know that's not enough,” Ms. Sebelius said.

The measures comply with the ACA provision requiring the PCIP to align premiums and benefits with the private insurance market, Mr. Popper said. However, he said there's still plenty of room for new enrollees.

“We've been enrolling people at an increasing rate, but we know we have the capacity to cover even more people,” Mr. Popper said.

He added that funding for the measures will fall under the original $5 billion set aside for the program through the health reform law, as well as existing member premiums.

Despite original HHS estimates that several hundred thousand people would benefit from the PCIP, 18,313 people were enrolled as of early May.

The PCIP is run by the federal government in 23 states and the District of Columbia; remaining states operate their own programs using funding from the ACA. HHS sent letters to those 27 state programs, encouraging them to consider similar reforms to their programs.

A 40% premium cut and simpler enrollment procedures are two changes the federal government is employing to increase enrollment in the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced during a press briefing.

Launched in July 2010 under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) provides an insurance option for people with preexisting conditions who have been denied coverage and have been without insurance for 6 months or more.

To increase awareness for the program, HHS will offer payment for insurance brokers and agents for successfully connecting eligible enrollees with the PCIP program, said Richard Popper, deputy director of insurance programs in the Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight.

Those seeking coverage under the PCIP will no longer have to wait to receive a denial letter from their insurance company to enroll. Instead, they can provide attestation of their condition from their physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Patients with preexisting conditions still will be required to be without insurance for 6 months before they are eligible for coverage under the plan, said Mr. Popper. He added that HHS does not have the authority to waive the 6-month waiting period under the current health law.

Ms. Sebelius emphasized HHS's priority to increase enrollment in the program.

“It's encouraging to see more people who need health insurance the most getting it, but we know that's not enough,” Ms. Sebelius said.

The measures comply with the ACA provision requiring the PCIP to align premiums and benefits with the private insurance market, Mr. Popper said. However, he said there's still plenty of room for new enrollees.

“We've been enrolling people at an increasing rate, but we know we have the capacity to cover even more people,” Mr. Popper said.

He added that funding for the measures will fall under the original $5 billion set aside for the program through the health reform law, as well as existing member premiums.

Despite original HHS estimates that several hundred thousand people would benefit from the PCIP, 18,313 people were enrolled as of early May.

The PCIP is run by the federal government in 23 states and the District of Columbia; remaining states operate their own programs using funding from the ACA. HHS sent letters to those 27 state programs, encouraging them to consider similar reforms to their programs.

A 40% premium cut and simpler enrollment procedures are two changes the federal government is employing to increase enrollment in the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced during a press briefing.

Launched in July 2010 under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) provides an insurance option for people with preexisting conditions who have been denied coverage and have been without insurance for 6 months or more.

To increase awareness for the program, HHS will offer payment for insurance brokers and agents for successfully connecting eligible enrollees with the PCIP program, said Richard Popper, deputy director of insurance programs in the Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight.

Those seeking coverage under the PCIP will no longer have to wait to receive a denial letter from their insurance company to enroll. Instead, they can provide attestation of their condition from their physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Patients with preexisting conditions still will be required to be without insurance for 6 months before they are eligible for coverage under the plan, said Mr. Popper. He added that HHS does not have the authority to waive the 6-month waiting period under the current health law.

Ms. Sebelius emphasized HHS's priority to increase enrollment in the program.

“It's encouraging to see more people who need health insurance the most getting it, but we know that's not enough,” Ms. Sebelius said.

The measures comply with the ACA provision requiring the PCIP to align premiums and benefits with the private insurance market, Mr. Popper said. However, he said there's still plenty of room for new enrollees.

“We've been enrolling people at an increasing rate, but we know we have the capacity to cover even more people,” Mr. Popper said.

He added that funding for the measures will fall under the original $5 billion set aside for the program through the health reform law, as well as existing member premiums.

Despite original HHS estimates that several hundred thousand people would benefit from the PCIP, 18,313 people were enrolled as of early May.

The PCIP is run by the federal government in 23 states and the District of Columbia; remaining states operate their own programs using funding from the ACA. HHS sent letters to those 27 state programs, encouraging them to consider similar reforms to their programs.

Children who get their health insurance through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Plan may not have the same access to specialist care as do their privately insured peers, according to a study conducted in Chicago.

Researchers at the University of Chicago completed calls to 273 specialty clinics in dermatology, otolaryngology, endocrinology, neurology, orthopedics, psychiatry, and allergy/immunology, posing as mothers seeking appointments for a child who needed specialty care. Every caller said that he or she was referred from the child's primary care physician or an emergency department.

Data were collected by trained, supervised graduate students at the university from January through May 2010 (N. Engl. J. Med. 2011;364:2324-33). Two-thirds of callers who said their child was insured by Medicaid or CHIP were denied appointments, compared with 11% of those claiming private insurance. Only 89 clinics accepted both Medicaid and CHIP insurance. Medicaid/CHIP enrollees had to wait an average of 42 days for their appointment, compared with 20 days for those with private insurance.

The study was conducted in Cook County, Ill., where the ratio of specialists to the population is 218 to 100,000, the highest in the nation.

Lead author Dr. Karin Rhodes of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, said that although she was not entirely surprised by the findings, she was disappointed to see such disparities. As state and federal governments struggle to pay for Medicaid, cutting the funding will only further exacerbate existing access disparities.

Although this issue is not unique to Illinois, it occurs almost exclusively among private practices that function under the fee-for-service payment model, according to Dr. Ronald E. Kleinman, physician-in-chief of MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston. Private practices often are daunted by the logistics of these public plans, such as onerous paperwork, low reimbursements, and extended waiting periods – often 6-12 months – for payment, Dr. Kleinman said in an interview.

The state of Illinois supported the study. Dr. Rhodes and her colleague reported no relevant conflicts of interest.

Two-thirds of Medicaid/CHIP enrollees were denied appointments, compared with 11% of those privately insured.

Source ©Sean Locke/iStockphoto.com

Children who get their health insurance through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Plan may not have the same access to specialist care as do their privately insured peers, according to a study conducted in Chicago.

Researchers at the University of Chicago completed calls to 273 specialty clinics in dermatology, otolaryngology, endocrinology, neurology, orthopedics, psychiatry, and allergy/immunology, posing as mothers seeking appointments for a child who needed specialty care. Every caller said that he or she was referred from the child's primary care physician or an emergency department.

Data were collected by trained, supervised graduate students at the university from January through May 2010 (N. Engl. J. Med. 2011;364:2324-33). Two-thirds of callers who said their child was insured by Medicaid or CHIP were denied appointments, compared with 11% of those claiming private insurance. Only 89 clinics accepted both Medicaid and CHIP insurance. Medicaid/CHIP enrollees had to wait an average of 42 days for their appointment, compared with 20 days for those with private insurance.

The study was conducted in Cook County, Ill., where the ratio of specialists to the population is 218 to 100,000, the highest in the nation.

Lead author Dr. Karin Rhodes of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, said that although she was not entirely surprised by the findings, she was disappointed to see such disparities. As state and federal governments struggle to pay for Medicaid, cutting the funding will only further exacerbate existing access disparities.

Although this issue is not unique to Illinois, it occurs almost exclusively among private practices that function under the fee-for-service payment model, according to Dr. Ronald E. Kleinman, physician-in-chief of MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston. Private practices often are daunted by the logistics of these public plans, such as onerous paperwork, low reimbursements, and extended waiting periods – often 6-12 months – for payment, Dr. Kleinman said in an interview.

The state of Illinois supported the study. Dr. Rhodes and her colleague reported no relevant conflicts of interest.

Two-thirds of Medicaid/CHIP enrollees were denied appointments, compared with 11% of those privately insured.

Source ©Sean Locke/iStockphoto.com

Children who get their health insurance through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Plan may not have the same access to specialist care as do their privately insured peers, according to a study conducted in Chicago.

Researchers at the University of Chicago completed calls to 273 specialty clinics in dermatology, otolaryngology, endocrinology, neurology, orthopedics, psychiatry, and allergy/immunology, posing as mothers seeking appointments for a child who needed specialty care. Every caller said that he or she was referred from the child's primary care physician or an emergency department.

Data were collected by trained, supervised graduate students at the university from January through May 2010 (N. Engl. J. Med. 2011;364:2324-33). Two-thirds of callers who said their child was insured by Medicaid or CHIP were denied appointments, compared with 11% of those claiming private insurance. Only 89 clinics accepted both Medicaid and CHIP insurance. Medicaid/CHIP enrollees had to wait an average of 42 days for their appointment, compared with 20 days for those with private insurance.

The study was conducted in Cook County, Ill., where the ratio of specialists to the population is 218 to 100,000, the highest in the nation.

Lead author Dr. Karin Rhodes of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, said that although she was not entirely surprised by the findings, she was disappointed to see such disparities. As state and federal governments struggle to pay for Medicaid, cutting the funding will only further exacerbate existing access disparities.

Although this issue is not unique to Illinois, it occurs almost exclusively among private practices that function under the fee-for-service payment model, according to Dr. Ronald E. Kleinman, physician-in-chief of MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston. Private practices often are daunted by the logistics of these public plans, such as onerous paperwork, low reimbursements, and extended waiting periods – often 6-12 months – for payment, Dr. Kleinman said in an interview.

The state of Illinois supported the study. Dr. Rhodes and her colleague reported no relevant conflicts of interest.

Two-thirds of Medicaid/CHIP enrollees were denied appointments, compared with 11% of those privately insured.

Source ©Sean Locke/iStockphoto.com

CHICAGO – The American Medical Association’s House of Delegates passed a resolution on June 21 to "vigorously" work to change the Affordable Care Act so that the law better lines up with the organization’s policies.

The resolution that passed by a voice vote specifically addressed the need to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board and enact comprehensive medical liability reform and antitrust reform. Delegates such as Dr. Bruce Scott of the Kentucky delegation said that this is an effort to prove a point to the AMA members who have left the organization.

"I think that this will begin to satisfy some of the unhappy physicians back home who believe, mistakenly, that the AMA embraced wholeheartedly the [Affordable Care Act] legislation," Dr. Scott said from the house floor.

Alabama delegate Dr. Jeff Terry agreed. "I think some of us feel like perhaps some of the decisions that we’ve made through [the AMA’s] government relations [department] don’t go along with our policy, and I’d like to make an effort to try to make sure our AMA policy is what moves forward on the ACA as we attempt to change it," he said on the house floor.

Block granting in the Medicaid program also was addressed by the House of Delegates. A resolution proposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the AMA strongly oppose block granting the Medicaid program.

Dr. Melissa Garretson, a member of the AAP delegation, spoke on the need to maintain the federal/state partnership under Medicaid so that recipients can be ensured of basic benefits no matter where in the United States they live.

"Right now, what this language says is that the state gets to decide," said Dr. Garretson of Fort Worth, Tex. "Well, I live in that state where they could give a you-know-what about the 1.1 million uninsured kids and they don’t want to do anything with Medicaid. That’s just not where they are."

Dr. Marion Burton, also an AAP delegate, agreed. "For the AMA to go on record as supporting block grants would cause millions of children to be thrown under the uninsured bus," he said.

The resolution was referred to the board of trustees for a later decision.

CHICAGO – The American Medical Association’s House of Delegates passed a resolution on June 21 to "vigorously" work to change the Affordable Care Act so that the law better lines up with the organization’s policies.

The resolution that passed by a voice vote specifically addressed the need to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board and enact comprehensive medical liability reform and antitrust reform. Delegates such as Dr. Bruce Scott of the Kentucky delegation said that this is an effort to prove a point to the AMA members who have left the organization.

"I think that this will begin to satisfy some of the unhappy physicians back home who believe, mistakenly, that the AMA embraced wholeheartedly the [Affordable Care Act] legislation," Dr. Scott said from the house floor.

Alabama delegate Dr. Jeff Terry agreed. "I think some of us feel like perhaps some of the decisions that we’ve made through [the AMA’s] government relations [department] don’t go along with our policy, and I’d like to make an effort to try to make sure our AMA policy is what moves forward on the ACA as we attempt to change it," he said on the house floor.

Block granting in the Medicaid program also was addressed by the House of Delegates. A resolution proposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the AMA strongly oppose block granting the Medicaid program.

Dr. Melissa Garretson, a member of the AAP delegation, spoke on the need to maintain the federal/state partnership under Medicaid so that recipients can be ensured of basic benefits no matter where in the United States they live.

"Right now, what this language says is that the state gets to decide," said Dr. Garretson of Fort Worth, Tex. "Well, I live in that state where they could give a you-know-what about the 1.1 million uninsured kids and they don’t want to do anything with Medicaid. That’s just not where they are."

Dr. Marion Burton, also an AAP delegate, agreed. "For the AMA to go on record as supporting block grants would cause millions of children to be thrown under the uninsured bus," he said.

The resolution was referred to the board of trustees for a later decision.

CHICAGO – The American Medical Association’s House of Delegates passed a resolution on June 21 to "vigorously" work to change the Affordable Care Act so that the law better lines up with the organization’s policies.

The resolution that passed by a voice vote specifically addressed the need to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board and enact comprehensive medical liability reform and antitrust reform. Delegates such as Dr. Bruce Scott of the Kentucky delegation said that this is an effort to prove a point to the AMA members who have left the organization.

"I think that this will begin to satisfy some of the unhappy physicians back home who believe, mistakenly, that the AMA embraced wholeheartedly the [Affordable Care Act] legislation," Dr. Scott said from the house floor.

Alabama delegate Dr. Jeff Terry agreed. "I think some of us feel like perhaps some of the decisions that we’ve made through [the AMA’s] government relations [department] don’t go along with our policy, and I’d like to make an effort to try to make sure our AMA policy is what moves forward on the ACA as we attempt to change it," he said on the house floor.

Block granting in the Medicaid program also was addressed by the House of Delegates. A resolution proposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the AMA strongly oppose block granting the Medicaid program.

Dr. Melissa Garretson, a member of the AAP delegation, spoke on the need to maintain the federal/state partnership under Medicaid so that recipients can be ensured of basic benefits no matter where in the United States they live.

"Right now, what this language says is that the state gets to decide," said Dr. Garretson of Fort Worth, Tex. "Well, I live in that state where they could give a you-know-what about the 1.1 million uninsured kids and they don’t want to do anything with Medicaid. That’s just not where they are."

Dr. Marion Burton, also an AAP delegate, agreed. "For the AMA to go on record as supporting block grants would cause millions of children to be thrown under the uninsured bus," he said.

The resolution was referred to the board of trustees for a later decision.

CHICAGO – The American Medical Association’s House of Delegates passed a resolution on June 21 to "vigorously" work to change the Affordable Care Act so that the law better lines up with the organization’s policies.

The resolution that passed by a voice vote specifically addressed the need to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board and enact comprehensive medical liability reform and antitrust reform. Delegates such as Dr. Bruce Scott of the Kentucky delegation said that this is an effort to prove a point to the AMA members who have left the organization.

"I think that this will begin to satisfy some of the unhappy physicians back home who believe, mistakenly, that the AMA embraced wholeheartedly the [Affordable Care Act] legislation," Dr. Scott said from the house floor.

Alabama delegate Dr. Jeff Terry agreed. "I think some of us feel like perhaps some of the decisions that we’ve made through [the AMA’s] government relations [department] don’t go along with our policy, and I’d like to make an effort to try to make sure our AMA policy is what moves forward on the ACA as we attempt to change it," he said on the house floor.

Block granting in the Medicaid program also was addressed by the House of Delegates. A resolution proposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the AMA strongly oppose block granting the Medicaid program.

Dr. Melissa Garretson, a member of the AAP delegation, spoke on the need to maintain the federal/state partnership under Medicaid so that recipients can be ensured of basic benefits no matter where in the United States they live.

"Right now, what this language says is that the state gets to decide," said Dr. Garretson of Fort Worth, Tex. "Well, I live in that state where they could give a you-know-what about the 1.1 million uninsured kids and they don’t want to do anything with Medicaid. That’s just not where they are."

Dr. Marion Burton, also an AAP delegate, agreed. "For the AMA to go on record as supporting block grants would cause millions of children to be thrown under the uninsured bus," he said.

The resolution was referred to the board of trustees for a later decision.

CHICAGO – The American Medical Association’s House of Delegates passed a resolution on June 21 to "vigorously" work to change the Affordable Care Act so that the law better lines up with the organization’s policies.

The resolution that passed by a voice vote specifically addressed the need to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board and enact comprehensive medical liability reform and antitrust reform. Delegates such as Dr. Bruce Scott of the Kentucky delegation said that this is an effort to prove a point to the AMA members who have left the organization.

"I think that this will begin to satisfy some of the unhappy physicians back home who believe, mistakenly, that the AMA embraced wholeheartedly the [Affordable Care Act] legislation," Dr. Scott said from the house floor.

Alabama delegate Dr. Jeff Terry agreed. "I think some of us feel like perhaps some of the decisions that we’ve made through [the AMA’s] government relations [department] don’t go along with our policy, and I’d like to make an effort to try to make sure our AMA policy is what moves forward on the ACA as we attempt to change it," he said on the house floor.

Block granting in the Medicaid program also was addressed by the House of Delegates. A resolution proposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the AMA strongly oppose block granting the Medicaid program.

Dr. Melissa Garretson, a member of the AAP delegation, spoke on the need to maintain the federal/state partnership under Medicaid so that recipients can be ensured of basic benefits no matter where in the United States they live.

"Right now, what this language says is that the state gets to decide," said Dr. Garretson of Fort Worth, Tex. "Well, I live in that state where they could give a you-know-what about the 1.1 million uninsured kids and they don’t want to do anything with Medicaid. That’s just not where they are."

Dr. Marion Burton, also an AAP delegate, agreed. "For the AMA to go on record as supporting block grants would cause millions of children to be thrown under the uninsured bus," he said.

The resolution was referred to the board of trustees for a later decision.

CHICAGO – The American Medical Association’s House of Delegates passed a resolution on June 21 to "vigorously" work to change the Affordable Care Act so that the law better lines up with the organization’s policies.

The resolution that passed by a voice vote specifically addressed the need to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board and enact comprehensive medical liability reform and antitrust reform. Delegates such as Dr. Bruce Scott of the Kentucky delegation said that this is an effort to prove a point to the AMA members who have left the organization.

"I think that this will begin to satisfy some of the unhappy physicians back home who believe, mistakenly, that the AMA embraced wholeheartedly the [Affordable Care Act] legislation," Dr. Scott said from the house floor.

Alabama delegate Dr. Jeff Terry agreed. "I think some of us feel like perhaps some of the decisions that we’ve made through [the AMA’s] government relations [department] don’t go along with our policy, and I’d like to make an effort to try to make sure our AMA policy is what moves forward on the ACA as we attempt to change it," he said on the house floor.

Block granting in the Medicaid program also was addressed by the House of Delegates. A resolution proposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the AMA strongly oppose block granting the Medicaid program.

Dr. Melissa Garretson, a member of the AAP delegation, spoke on the need to maintain the federal/state partnership under Medicaid so that recipients can be ensured of basic benefits no matter where in the United States they live.

"Right now, what this language says is that the state gets to decide," said Dr. Garretson of Fort Worth, Tex. "Well, I live in that state where they could give a you-know-what about the 1.1 million uninsured kids and they don’t want to do anything with Medicaid. That’s just not where they are."

Dr. Marion Burton, also an AAP delegate, agreed. "For the AMA to go on record as supporting block grants would cause millions of children to be thrown under the uninsured bus," he said.

The resolution was referred to the board of trustees for a later decision.

CHICAGO – The American Medical Association’s House of Delegates passed a resolution on June 21 to "vigorously" work to change the Affordable Care Act so that the law better lines up with the organization’s policies.

The resolution that passed by a voice vote specifically addressed the need to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board and enact comprehensive medical liability reform and antitrust reform. Delegates such as Dr. Bruce Scott of the Kentucky delegation said that this is an effort to prove a point to the AMA members who have left the organization.

"I think that this will begin to satisfy some of the unhappy physicians back home who believe, mistakenly, that the AMA embraced wholeheartedly the [Affordable Care Act] legislation," Dr. Scott said from the house floor.

Alabama delegate Dr. Jeff Terry agreed. "I think some of us feel like perhaps some of the decisions that we’ve made through [the AMA’s] government relations [department] don’t go along with our policy, and I’d like to make an effort to try to make sure our AMA policy is what moves forward on the ACA as we attempt to change it," he said on the house floor.

Block granting in the Medicaid program also was addressed by the House of Delegates. A resolution proposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the AMA strongly oppose block granting the Medicaid program.

Dr. Melissa Garretson, a member of the AAP delegation, spoke on the need to maintain the federal/state partnership under Medicaid so that recipients can be ensured of basic benefits no matter where in the United States they live.

"Right now, what this language says is that the state gets to decide," said Dr. Garretson of Fort Worth, Tex. "Well, I live in that state where they could give a you-know-what about the 1.1 million uninsured kids and they don’t want to do anything with Medicaid. That’s just not where they are."

Dr. Marion Burton, also an AAP delegate, agreed. "For the AMA to go on record as supporting block grants would cause millions of children to be thrown under the uninsured bus," he said.

The resolution was referred to the board of trustees for a later decision.

CHICAGO – The American Medical Association’s House of Delegates passed a resolution on June 21 to "vigorously" work to change the Affordable Care Act so that the law better lines up with the organization’s policies.

The resolution that passed by a voice vote specifically addressed the need to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board and enact comprehensive medical liability reform and antitrust reform. Delegates such as Dr. Bruce Scott of the Kentucky delegation said that this is an effort to prove a point to the AMA members who have left the organization.

"I think that this will begin to satisfy some of the unhappy physicians back home who believe, mistakenly, that the AMA embraced wholeheartedly the [Affordable Care Act] legislation," Dr. Scott said from the house floor.

Alabama delegate Dr. Jeff Terry agreed. "I think some of us feel like perhaps some of the decisions that we’ve made through [the AMA’s] government relations [department] don’t go along with our policy, and I’d like to make an effort to try to make sure our AMA policy is what moves forward on the ACA as we attempt to change it," he said on the house floor.

Block granting in the Medicaid program also was addressed by the House of Delegates. A resolution proposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the AMA strongly oppose block granting the Medicaid program.

Dr. Melissa Garretson, a member of the AAP delegation, spoke on the need to maintain the federal/state partnership under Medicaid so that recipients can be ensured of basic benefits no matter where in the United States they live.

"Right now, what this language says is that the state gets to decide," said Dr. Garretson of Fort Worth, Tex. "Well, I live in that state where they could give a you-know-what about the 1.1 million uninsured kids and they don’t want to do anything with Medicaid. That’s just not where they are."

Dr. Marion Burton, also an AAP delegate, agreed. "For the AMA to go on record as supporting block grants would cause millions of children to be thrown under the uninsured bus," he said.

The resolution was referred to the board of trustees for a later decision.

CHICAGO – The American Medical Association’s House of Delegates passed a resolution on June 21 to "vigorously" work to change the Affordable Care Act so that the law better lines up with the organization’s policies.

The resolution that passed by a voice vote specifically addressed the need to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board and enact comprehensive medical liability reform and antitrust reform. Delegates such as Dr. Bruce Scott of the Kentucky delegation said that this is an effort to prove a point to the AMA members who have left the organization.

"I think that this will begin to satisfy some of the unhappy physicians back home who believe, mistakenly, that the AMA embraced wholeheartedly the [Affordable Care Act] legislation," Dr. Scott said from the house floor.

Alabama delegate Dr. Jeff Terry agreed. "I think some of us feel like perhaps some of the decisions that we’ve made through [the AMA’s] government relations [department] don’t go along with our policy, and I’d like to make an effort to try to make sure our AMA policy is what moves forward on the ACA as we attempt to change it," he said on the house floor.

Block granting in the Medicaid program also was addressed by the House of Delegates. A resolution proposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the AMA strongly oppose block granting the Medicaid program.

Dr. Melissa Garretson, a member of the AAP delegation, spoke on the need to maintain the federal/state partnership under Medicaid so that recipients can be ensured of basic benefits no matter where in the United States they live.

"Right now, what this language says is that the state gets to decide," said Dr. Garretson of Fort Worth, Tex. "Well, I live in that state where they could give a you-know-what about the 1.1 million uninsured kids and they don’t want to do anything with Medicaid. That’s just not where they are."

Dr. Marion Burton, also an AAP delegate, agreed. "For the AMA to go on record as supporting block grants would cause millions of children to be thrown under the uninsured bus," he said.

The resolution was referred to the board of trustees for a later decision.