GAO’s care report outlines need for more investigation
The Government Accountability Office’s recent report on long-term care partnership programs in four states outlines the need to further investigate expansion of partnership programs, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) said in a recent statement. The report’s findings – that partnership programs to help beneficiaries purchase LTC insurance provide important protections for individuals but are not likely to save money for Medicaid – has drawn fire from the states involved in the programs (New York, Indiana, Connecticut and California). Grassley said he plans to tap the inspector general to look into whether the programs should be expanded.
AMA supports federal tobacco tax for SCHIP
A federal tax on the sale of tobacco products can and should help fund the reauthorization of State Children’s Health Insurance Programs, the American Medical Association told Congress in a recent letter. The tax level currently imposed on the sale of tobacco has fallen off and hasn’t kept pace with inflation since the tax was last raised at the federal level 10 years ago, Ronald Davis, MD, president-elect of AMA, said in a press release.
AAFP gets $15M grant for diabetes education
The American Academy of Family Physicians has received a gift of $15 million from the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation to fund the launch of a diabetes education program. The peer-to-peer education program, titled “Peers for Progress,” will train diabetes sufferers as “diabetes mentors,” who will aid other diabetes patients in managing the demands of the disease in areas such as daily self-care. The grant will be distributed over five years and aims to fund the training and development of 200,000 people as diabetes mentors.
New Orleans group offers incentives to care workers
As many physicians and other medical professionals continue to leave New Orleans and its crippled healthcare industry, the Greater New Orleans Health Service Corps is attempting to draw providers back into the city by offering incentives of up to $110,000 per person for student loan repayment and income guarantees. Healthcare workers who accept the corps’ offerings must pledge to work in the city for at least three years and devote one-third of their practice to treating the uninsured or underinsured.