Category Archives: Medicaid

Some Doctors Handing Out Medicaid Prescriptions for Potent Drugs to Kids

Written On October 13, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Texas has a handful of physicians taking advantage of Medicaid rules by prescribing inappropriate medications for children. This is not only bad for the kids, but eats up Medicaid money that should go to other people. The problem was detailed in an editorial in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. Here are excerpts:
With little oversight and [...]

Posted in Medicaid, Medical Malpractice

Hospital Cost Shifting Adds to Auto Injury Claim Costs

Written On June 13, 2011 By Bob Kraft

According to a recent study from the Insurance Research Council, low reimbursements from public health insurance programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, have prompted hospitals to shift costs to automobile insurance companies—raising auto injury claim costs and forcing auto insurers to more closely scrutinize and negotiate hospital bills prior to payment. The IRC estimates that for [...]

Posted in Health Insurance, Insurance Information, Medicaid, Medicare

Medicaid Will No Longer Pay Hospitals for Preventable Illnesses or Injuries

Written On June 8, 2011 By Bob Kraft

The National Journal reports, “Medicaid will no longer pay hospitals or doctors for certain preventable illnesses and injuries, such as operating on the wrong body part, the Health and Human Services Department said Wednesday.” In a statement, Donald Berwick, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said, “These steps will encourage health professionals [...]

Posted in Medicaid, Medical Malpractice, Medicare

Who Represents Me in Washington and in Austin?

Written On May 12, 2011 By Bob Kraft

We are in the midst of some very bad legislative proposals, both in Washington and in Austin. Whether you’re concerned about the loss of Medicare (Washington) or passage of a corporate immunity bill (Austin), you should contact your representatives and make your concerns known.
There is a handy site for Texas who want to know who [...]

Posted in Government, Medicaid, Medicare, Political and/or Judicial, Tort Reform

HHS Initiative Aims to Reduce Medical Errors and Cut Costs

Written On April 18, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Print media sources widely covered an announcement last week that the Obama Administration was partnering with hospitals, insurers and other groups in order to reduce medical errors. Most sources considered the move a positive for the Administration.
The Los Angeles Times reports, “The Obama administration announced a broad new initiative Tuesday to reduce medical errors, partnering [...]

Posted in Government, Health Insurance, Medicaid, Medical Malpractice, Medicare

Babies and Grandmas: Who Will Texas’ Medicaid Cuts Hurt Most?

Written On February 8, 2011 By Bob Kraft

The Texas Legislature is facing a huge budget deficit and must either cut expenses or raise taxes. This is Texas, so we know our taxes won’t be increased. That means severe cuts in services, and the only question is which services, and therefore which residents, suffer the most.
The Houston Chronicle ran an article about proposed [...]

Posted in Medicaid, Political and/or Judicial

State Budget Cuts May Mean Hundreds of Nursing Homes Close

Written On February 7, 2011 By Bob Kraft

The proposed budget cuts put forward by the Texas Legislature could have a devastating effect on the nursing home industry and the patients who live in nursing homes. This blunt fact was detailed in a recent article in the Dallas Morning News. Here are excerpts:
Hundreds of nursing homes, including dozens in Dallas-Fort Worth, may close [...]

Posted in Medicaid, Political and/or Judicial

Dementia Patients Hospitalized Too Often

Written On January 26, 2011 By Bob Kraft

A disturbing study about the care of dementia patients has been summarized in the New York Times. The bottom line is that many people with dementia are hospitalized unnecessarily. Here are excerpts from the article:
Perhaps no group of nursing home residents is more vulnerable than those with advanced dementia: unable to speak for themselves, suffering [...]

Posted in Medicaid, Medical Malpractice

Drug Maker Mylan Agrees to Settle Medicaid Case for $65 Million

Written On December 31, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The  drug maker Mylan Inc. has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought against it by both the U.S. government and the State of Texas. The suit alleges that Mylan artificially inflated prescription drug prices, causing Medicaid to pay the company far more money than should have been reasonable. Mylan will pay $65 million under the [...]

Posted in Medicaid, Prescription Drug Claims

Patient Care Compromised by Drug Makers’ Price Inflation Scheme

Written On December 9, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The AP (12/7, Caldwell) reported Abbot Laboratories Inc., B. Braun Medical Inc., and Roxane Laboratories Inc. “agreed to pay more than $421 million to settle allegations that the companies reported inflated prices for numerous products,” according to the Justice Department. Assistant Attorney General Tony West said the companies “inflated the average wholesale price for dozens [...]

Posted in Medicaid, Medicare, Prescription Drug Claims, Product Liability or Medical Devices

Political Rhetoric Harms Perception and Future of Texas Medicaid Programs

Written On November 23, 2010 By Bob Kraft

A recent article about Medicaid in the Houston Chronicle repeated some of the political musings of Governor Rick Perry and other politicians. For anyone with even a basic knowledge of Medicaid, the suggestion that Texas could simply “opt-out” is ridiculous.
Of course that doesn’t stop politicians from proposing it, and thereby frightening the poor, the elderly, [...]

Posted in Government, Health Insurance, Medicaid, Political and/or Judicial

Medicaid Fraud by Doctors and Nursing Homes

Written On June 3, 2010 By Bob Kraft

This story about doctors and nursing homes committing Medicaid fraud and abusing helpless patients involves facilities in Illinois. I hope the same thing isn’t happening in Texas. It’s really sad and disgusting. Here is the beginning of an article in the Chicago Tribune:
Dr. Roland Borrasi chuckled as he told three doctors how he used kickbacks [...]

Posted in Medicaid, Medical Malpractice

Poor Ratings for 20% of U.S. Nursing Homes

Written On March 8, 2010 By Bob Kraft

As reported by USA Today one in five of the nation’s 15,700 nursing homes have consistently received poor ratings for overall quality, an analysis of new government data finds. More than a quarter-million patients live in homes given another set of low scores within the past year, according to data released by Medicare, which first released [...]

Posted in Medicaid, Medical Malpractice

Texas – State Of Neglect, Part 2

Written On January 11, 2009 By Bob Kraft

I wrote recently about a continuing series in the Dallas Morning News, and how it reflected my loss of pride in my native state. The second of a four-part series is in the paper today, and continues to discuss in blunt terms the failing of Texas government to protect the weak, the needy, and the [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Disability, Government, Insurance Company or Government Misconduct, Medicaid

Social Security Disability, Medicaid, And The Economy

Written On December 24, 2008 By Bob Kraft

Many of our clients who are granted disability by the Social Security Administration will qualify for Medicaid benefits. For those who are not disabled but rely on Medicaid because they qualify based on income, the worsening of the economy means more people may begin to rely on Medicaid alone for their health insurance. This situation [...]

Posted in Disability, Medicaid, Social Security Disability

Medicaid Covering Unapproved Drugs

Written On November 24, 2008 By Bob Kraft

Our tax dollars at work – Medicaid is risking patients lives by authorizing potentially dangerous drugs. As reported in the Dallas Morning News, Medicaid has paid at least $200 million since  2004 for medicines that have
never been reviewed by the government for safety and effectiveness but
still are covered under Medicaid. Excerpts from the article:

The availability [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Medicaid, Prescription Drug Claims

Limits Placed On Medicaid Outpatient Services

Written On November 10, 2008 By Bob Kraft

I wrote a few days ago about the Bush administration’s plan to push through a raft of
new regulations loosening restrictions on such matters as pollution and
consumer safety. Now the New York Times reports on another regulation change—this one affecting Medicaid reimbursements. Here are excerpts
In the first of an expected avalanche of post-election regulations, the [...]

Posted in Medicaid, Political and/or Judicial

Computer Crash Hinders Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Case

Written On October 23, 2008 By Bob Kraft

According to the Dallas Morning News, the Texas Attorney General has hit a major speed bump in his investigation into Medicaid fraud in Texas, and all because of a computer crash and a failure to backup data. Let this be a lesson to all of us – back up your computer now!

A massive
computer crash [...]

Posted in Computer Tips, Tricks, and Tools, Government, Medicaid

Link of the Day – Medicaid Information From Families USA

Written On October 10, 2006 By Bob Kraft

You will find quite a bit of helpful information about Medicaid and Children’s Health at the Families USA Web site.

Posted in Link of the Day, Medicaid, Medical and Health Resources