Medicare Part D

> On the Hill, policy wonks are predicting that many health plans offering Medicare Part D drug coverage will leave the market next few years. Article

> A group of advocacy organizations and provider groups have joined together to promote awareness of the still-unsolved problem of stillbirth. The group says one in 150 babies are stillborn. …

> The shuttered and crumbling Cook County Hospital in Chicago (known nationally as the face of "ER") meets two criteria to be a national historic landmark, says a city commission. It's been the site of historic events and has a terrific terra cotta Beaux Arts facade. There's been a fight over the building since the new Stroger Hospital opened nearby in 2002, but a landmark designation might save the structure for alternative uses. …

Unfortunately for them, it appears that ESRD patients will end up in the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole." A study in the September issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology says that end-stage renal disease patients are likely to fall into the dreaded "doughnut hole" of Medicare's Part D drug benefit, where they exhaust the initial benefit of $2,251 and have to pay almost $3,000 out of pocket until they again qualify for benefits. For more, see this release.

> The Los Angeles Times reports that yet another transplant program--this time at USC University Hospital--is in trouble. Analysis of hospital statistics reveals that the USC liver transplant program's mortality rates are twice the national average. As FierceHealthcare readers already know, USC is just one of a growing number of hospitals facing transplant program problems. …

Democrats are criticizing HHS secretary Mike Leavitt for using a private jet belonging to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to promote the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. Leavitt visited more than 90 cities to promote Medicare Part D over the last six months. The jet costs about $3,000 an hour to operate, according to critics. Leavitt says the trips involved legitimate public health related business, noting that in most cases he met with officials to discuss pandemic influenza in addition to the new benefit. Article

Pharmacists and insurers groups clashed in Washington over payment for Medicare Part D claims. Critics say many of the companies that offer drug plans under the new benefit are taking too long to resolve claims, putting financial pressure on pharmacies. Administration officials had initally argued that the numbers showed that insurers were making payments within 21-25 days. On Wednesday, a CMS spokesman admitted that the agency has no data backing that claim.

- see this article from The Hill

> Chutes & Ladders: The CEO of Boston's Catholic healthcare system is leaving, after reports this week that he harassed a number of employees. Article

> The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report writes that starting in 2007, Medicare Part D plans will no longer be able to co-brand with outside organizations. The news …

Prosecutors in Manhattan have launched a criminal investigation into stock-option grants to senior executives at UnitedHealth. The Minnetonka, Minnesota-based health insurer also said the IRS has asked for access to documents, suggesting that an investigation into tax issues may be a possibility. For weeks, the consensus has been that it is unlikely that CEO William McGuire will resign as a result of the affair. Criminal charges could change things in the blink of an eye. UnitedHealth …

A powerful bipartisan group of legislators in Washington has introduced legislation that would waive penalties for late sign ups for Medicare Part D. Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced a bill which would waive the current penalty. Grassley predicts that the legislation will pass by a unanimous vote in the Senate. Observers are divided over how well the legislation would do in the House, should it move forward. The White House showed signs that it may be …

"We've seen a real surge of interest" says CMS head Mark McClellan. Monday was the deadline for seniors to sign up for Medicare Part D without facing a penalty. And many appear to have taken advantage of the opportunity. McClellan told the Associated Press that between 40,000 and 50,000 people were on the CMS website at any given time yesterday looking for last minute information on the benefit.

- see this AP …