Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
State Highlights: Mass. Gets $41B Deal With CMS; Huge Nursing Home Complaint Backlog In Calif.
WBUR: State, Feds Reach Five-Year, $41.4B Health Care Accord
The Patrick administration early Friday evening announced a five-year health care deal with the federal government worth $41.4 billion, which will succeed a three-year $26.75 billion waiver agreement that expired June 30. (Norton, 11/1)
Kaiser Health News: California Audit Finds Backlog Of 11,000 Nursing Home Investigations
California State Auditor Elaine M. Howle found that the complaints had been open for a year on average – a time frame she called unreasonable and “very concerning.” Nearly 370 open complaints arose from situations that put patients in “immediate jeopardy,” meaning they caused or were likely to cause serious injury or death, according to the review, which looked at cases open as of April 2014. In the Los Angeles County district, 65 immediate jeopardy complaints were open an average of 514 days. (Gorman, 10/31)
Kaiser Health News: Home Health Workers Struggle For Better Pay And Health Insurance
Holly Dawson believes her job is a calling. She is one of about 2 million home care workers in the country. The jobs come with long hours and low pay. Each workday, Dawson drives through the Cleveland suburbs to help people take their medicines, bathe and do the dishes. She also takes time to lend a sympathetic ear. George Grellinger, a former client of hers, has dementia. He recently fell down the back steps of his home. Dawson remains friends and regularly stops in to check on him. To remain living at home, Grellinger had to switch to an aide who is covered by his veterans’ benefits. (Tribble, 11/3)
The Associated Press: Oklahoma Dental Clinics Reach Medicaid Fraud Settlement
The operator of some Oklahoma dental clinics has agreed to pay more than $5 million to settle allegations that it submitted false Medicaid claims. Federal and state prosecutors said Friday they had alleged that Ocean Dental, which operates clinics throughout the state, submitted false Medicaid claims for work that was either never performed or billed at higher rates than allowed. Officials alleged former Ocean Dental employee Dr. Robin Lockwood submitted claims for dental restorations between 2005 and 2010 that were either billed for more surfaces than actually performed or not performed at all. (11/1)
Cronkite News: Programs Aim To Move Medical Students Toward Primary Care
Arizona doesn't have enough primary care physicians to meet the need in many areas, particularly in rural and underserved parts of the state. According to a study by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation that also considered dentists and mental-health professionals, only 53 percent of Arizona's primary health care needs are being met. To combat the problem, [University of Arizona] medical students held a Primary Care Week recently, offering speakers and events to promote the specialty of primary health care and address reservations students may have about entering the field. (Armstrong, 11/2)
The Associated Press: Heroin Task Force Marks One Year, Successes
A year after leaders in northern Kentucky formed a task force to battle the growing heroin problem, they are setting their sights on the next phase. The Northern Kentucky Heroin Impact Response Task Force gathered in Covington earlier this week to reflect on the year's successes. But the business leaders, law enforcement officers and health care workers who make up the group know they have a long way to go. The group's efforts have inspired 17 free overdose-prevention clinics, providing 129 free kits containing a life-saving drug, naloxone, The Kentucky Enquirer reported. The group has recorded five rescues, including a 15-year-old boy who overdosed on heroin on his birthday. (11/2)
