As the nation pauses this weekend to honor the brave men and women who served in our nation’s Armed Forces, U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today filed legislation to ensure some of our most severely disabled veterans have access to the health care they need.
The legislation, known as the FAIR Heroes Act, would make disabled veterans who were medically retired from the military eligible for both Medicare Part B and TRICARE, a health care program for retired veterans and their families, and allow them to choose which health plan works best for them.
Under current law, severely disabled veterans who receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, or SSDI, for two or more years don’t have a choice. They are required, by law, to purchase Medicare Part B coverage – and, in some cases, maintain that coverage even if they return to work.
By giving these veterans the choice to enroll in TRICARE instead of the more costly Medicare Part B program, the lawmakers’ bill could save many veterans up to $1,300 a year.
“These brave men and women are American heroes,” Nelson said. “They have made tremendous sacrifices in service to their country and making sure they have access to the health care that best fits their needs is the least we can do.”
If these medically retired veterans fail to immediately purchase Medicare Part B coverage when they become eligible, or fail to maintain that coverage for at least eight years after returning to work, they are forced to pay a late enrollment fee and higher premiums if they try to enroll in Medicare later in life.
For some disabled veterans, the late-enrollment penalty and higher premiums make Medicare coverage unaffordable.
Nelson and Blumenthal’s legislation seeks to change that, not only by giving these disabled veterans the option to enroll in TRICARE instead, but also by eliminating the eight-year Medicare requirement and late-enrollment penalties for those who were medically retired from the military.
The legislation has been endorsed by several veterans organizations including the Wounded Warriors Project, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Got Your 6, Association of the U.S. Army and the National Military Family Association.
A copy of the legislation is available here.
health care
Sen. Nelson urges CMS to help maintain access to health care for Florida children
Sen. Bill Nelson today sent the following letter urging the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to work with the state of Florida to ensure children maintain access to their healthcare in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
Following is text of the letter sent to CMS Administrator Verma. A pdf copy is available here.
October 12, 2017
The Honorable Seema Verma
Administrator
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 445-G
Washington, DC 20201
Dear Administrator Verma,
I am writing to urge you to work with the state of Florida to issue guidance so Floridians can maintain access to health care and services as they recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
Following Hurricane Harvey, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved Texas’ request to temporarily waive the co-payments and enrollment fees for any children or families enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) who reside in FEMA-declared disaster counties.
In Florida, the payment deadline for KidCare, Florida’s CHIP program, was extended only until October 31, 2017, but it is my understanding that coverage is cancelled for children until the payment is received. Simply delaying premium payments fails to take into consideration the gravity of any hardships in the wake of Hurricane Irma and forces Florida families to make two premium payments in a single month.
Moreover, CMS also approved a six-month extension of Medicaid and CHIP benefits for Texans residing in FEMA-declared disaster counties. In Florida, the deadline to complete Medicaid eligibility recertification has been extended by one month.
The steps taken in Texas ensure that no one is being denied medical care because of financial strain brought on by the hurricane. These same policies should apply to Florida in the wake of Hurricane Irma as they have during past natural disasters. For example, in 2005, then-Governor Bush waived premium payments for CHIP when the state was hit by four hurricanes.
For these reasons, I am asking CMS to issue guidance so the state is aware of and will ask the federal government to waive Florida KidCare co-payments and enrollment fees through November 2017, at a minimum, and extend the Medicaid eligibility certification period.
KidCare provides critical health services to about 400,000 children in Florida, some of whom have special health care needs. Moreover, nearly four million Floridians rely on Medicaid. Many of these families have encountered unexpected financial stress, including lost wages or homes, in the wake of Hurricane Irma—they shouldn’t have to also worry about their health coverage as they try to rebuild.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to working together to find ways to help Floridians as we recover from Hurricane Irma.
Sincerely,
Nursing Homes Warn State Lawmakers that Approving Senate PPS Proposal will Cost Pinellas County Homes $13 Million; Threaten High-Quality Care
WHO:
Kip Corriveau, Director of Mission at Bon Secours St. Petersburg Health System
Peter Crosa, Bon Secours Board Member
Monsignor Robert C. Gibbons, St. Paul Catholic Church
Rob Goldstein, Chief Executive Officer, Menorah Manor
Kent L. McRae, President/CEO, Mease Manor
WHAT: Nursing Homes Warn State Lawmakers that Approving Senate PPS Proposal will Cost Pinellas County Homes more than $13 Million; Threaten High Quality Care
WHERE:
Bon Secours Maria Manor
10300 4th Street North
St. Petersburg, FL 33716
WHEN:
Thursday, April 20, 2017
10 a.m. EDT
WHY:
Bon Secours Maria Manor, with other nursing homes from around Pinellas County, will gather to warn lawmakers against approving the Prospective Payment System (PPS) model that is currently included in the Florida Senate budget.
In Pinellas County, there are 69 nursing homes and 39 of them will lose money under the proposed PPS model, collectively costing those homes roughly $13 million, including:
- Bon Secours loses $1,738,412 or 8.97 percent;
- Bernard L Samson Nursing Center loses $999,155 or 9.87 percent; and,
- Mease Manor loses $218,751 or 7.31 percent;
These losses would negatively affect high-quality nursing homes, threatening the quality of care that is currently delivered by Pinellas County’s nursing homes and devastating many of the state’s four- and five-star providers. Under the plan 152 four- and five-star nursing homes will lose critical funding, while 97 one- and two-star facilities receive additional funding. In addition, this proposal would shift $44 million from direct resident care to property.
ICYMI: USA TODAY: Republicans cannot give up on health care: Rick Scott
Republicans cannot give up on health care: Rick Scott
USA TODAY
Governor Rick Scott
April 3, 2017
…
While efforts like tax reform are important to strengthening our national economy, our country will never see the kind of growth we need as long as Obamacare is in place. Our businesses and entrepreneurs will never fully thrive as long as they are burdened by the costs of Obamacare. Washington needs to stop worrying about getting a grand bargain done, and start delivering on their promise to help American families by repealing Obamacare
…
Read full Op-Ed on USA TODAY HERE.
Secretary Senior Announces Contract Awarded to HCCI for Health Care Transparency Initiative
The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) announced today the selection of the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) as the vendor partner that will create an online health care transparency tool for Florida where consumers can find and compare the price of common health care services in their area.
Agency Secretary Justin M. Senior said, “Our Agency continues to place an emphasis on health care transparency for Florida’s consumers, and we are committed to ensuring that all Floridians have access to high quality health care. This tool is a huge step forward in providing consumers with as much information about pricing and quality as possible, allowing Floridians to make more informed health care decisions.”
The tool will calculate prices based on data from actual insurance claims that have been paid to Florida health care providers, and will help consumers estimate their out of pocket costs before they receive a health care service. The tool will allow visitors to the Agency’s existing health care information website, FloridaHealthFinder.gov, to compare health care providers based on both price and quality so they can make more informed decisions when seeking health care services.
HCCI was selected to create the tool for Florida when the new health care transparency law, F.S 408.05(3)(c), became effective on July 1, 2016. Under this contract, HCCI will add claims from insurance plans that are participating in Florida’s Statewide Medicaid Managed Care program and the Florida state employee group health insurance program. The vendor will create a dedicated website for Florida that will interface with FloridaHealthFinder.gov, allowing visitors to view prices, quality, regulatory and a wealth of other information on Florida licensed health care providers all in one place.
HCCI Executive Director and President David Newman said “HCCI is pleased to be working with the State of Florida on the health care transparency initiative. The Florida initiative is the largest state effort in the country to promote price and quality transparency and is part of the state’s larger efforts to reform and improve the care available to Floridians.”
The online tool will provide pricing estimates on up to 300 different “bundles” of health care services. Bundles are designed to help consumers understand the complete cost of their care, even if their particular condition requires care from multiple providers.
