Medicaid program

Electronic Data Systems won a $308 million contract to implement changes to the computer systems running Florida's Medicaid program. The news came despite protests from two competitors that bidding on the project was unfair. Under Governor Jeb Bush (R), Florida is experimenting with changes to the state's program for poor and disadvantaged residents, enrolling some participants in private sector managed care plans. 

- see this article from the Gainesville Tribune 

A three percent tax on Texas hospitals would generate $3 billion a year that could help improve access to healthcare for Texans without health insurance, according to a new report out this week from the James Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. The state has one of the highest rates of uninsured citizens, with about 25 percent lacking coverage. The report, titled "Code Red: The Critical Condition of the Health of Texas," concludes that the state could benefit from more …

The University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey (UMDNJ) said it would accept federal oversight of its finances in the wake of a billing scandal that has seriously damaged the school's reputation. Yesterday, the Department of Justice warned UMDNJ that it faces criminal prosecution for overbilling the government Medicaid program by as much as $10 million over the past five years. A DOJ spokesman said the deal is the first time a public university has ever been assigned a federal monitor.

- see this article from The New York Times

The Department of Health and Human Services approved changes to Florida's Medicaid program proposed by Gov. Jeb Bush. Under the plan, which has been harshly criticized by many Democrats, Florida has the authority to limit spending on the benefits each program recipient receives. The approval also allows managed care companies more flexibility in restricting benefits. The spending cap specifically excludes pregnant women and those under the age of 21. The HHS approval gives the state the …

The Department of Health and Human Services bolstered its case for spending on health IT projects with a pair of reports which argue that a national health information network and a system of electronic health records could save taxpayers between $51 million and $181 million by preventing fraud. The first report, commissioned by the office of Health IT coordinator Dr. David Brailer, notes that automated coding software could help fight fraud significantly. The second argues that HIT …

Bipartisan support for a plan to expand the Medicaid program to provide healthcare coverage for Katrina appears to be growing in Washington. Several key senators and governors warned on Wednesday they will support legislation sponsored by Senators Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.), which will extend Medicaid benefits to evacuees from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The White House has opposed the legislation, arguing that it could lead to a permanent expansion of the …

EDS said it has been awarded a $253 million contract to develop and manage a new system for Florida's Medicaid program. The news follows the announcement earlier in the week that the company had signed a similar deal with Oklahoma. The news shows that EDS is continuing to maintain its core healthcare business, processing claims and providing technology support for state Medicaid programs. It also has significant business as a technology sub-contractor for several Blues and regional Medicare processors.

- see this story from the Associated Press

> A new study finds that Medicare Part D may help seniors save even more than expected. Story

> In an attempt to return itself to financial health, the Tufts HMO is giving managed care strategies another try. Story

> AARP comes out …

The Austin American-Statesman offers a profile of Spence Jackson, the software executive behind Movero, a start-up which provides consulting help to companies and government agencies deploying wireless technologies. Florida has hired Movero to deploy and manage wireless devices used in its Medicaid program, a move the company says has saved the state a lot of money. With government investment in wireless technology and healthcare expected to grow, the company's focus on …

> Responding to the recent uproar over widespread abuse in the New York Medicaid program, attorney general Eliot Spitzer is pressing for new powers to fight healthcare fraud. Story

> London EMT blogger Tom Reynolds -- made famous by the July 7 attacks -- has live coverage of today's bombings on his blog. Blog

> A New York man who runs a …