Report: Georgia could reap millions in fed healthcare aid

A healthcare lobbying group says Georgia will receive more than $700 million in Medicaid funding if a federal economic stimulus package is passed.

Washington, D.C.-based Families USA is pushing Congress to approve an estimated $40 billion healthcare package, as part of the incoming Obama Administration’s expected economic measures.

Ron Pollack is the executive president of left-leaning advocacy group. He says the funding will have a trickle-down effect locally:

“The increased money for the State of Georgia would provide approximately $708 mi llion dollars in new funding to the state, which in turn would create approximately 12,600 additional jobs and spur about 1.3 billion dollars in new business activity in the state.”

Recent State budget cutbacks pared five percent off Medicaid and PeachCare – some 114 million dollars.

A recent Georgia State University report pegs the state at sixth place nationally in uninsured residents. In 2007, about 18 – percent of all Georgians went without health care – above the national average of 15%.

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Flu shots available in W. Ga.

The Columbus Department of Public Health and the West Central Health District report that they have received supplies of influenza vaccine, for the winter flu season.

The flu shots will be restricted to Georgia residents of the following counties, and will be distributed at their local health departments this coming Monday, September 22 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m:

Chattahoochee, Clay, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee (Columbus), Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Webster.

The vaccine will be available on a walk-in basis to the general public and high-risk population for $23.00 apiece, and pneumonia vaccine will cost $14.00, according to a statement by the West Central Health District (WCHD).

The WCHD recommends vaccinations for the following high-risk populations:

• Adults age 65 years or older
• All children aged 6-23 months
• Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
• Health-care workers involved in direct, hands-on, face-to-face patient care
• Pregnant women
• Children aged 6 months-18 years on chronic aspirin therapy
• Individuals who live with or care for one or more children less than 6 months of age
• Individuals with long-term health problems such as heart disease; kidney disease; lung diseases like asthma; metabolic diseases like diabetes, blood disorders like anemia; a weakened immune system caused, for example, by cancer or cancer treatment, HIV/AIDS, or steroid therapy; or certain conditions such as neuromuscular disorders that can cause breathing problems.

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Voters to be offered flu shots

Officials in western Georgia say they have a novel way to boost voter turnout on Election Day.

Muscogee County’s Board of Elections and Registrations, together with the local Health Department are taking part in a nationwide “Vote and Vax” campaign. The program was launched in the summer of 2006 and voting officials hope it will draw more voters to the polls by offering flu vaccinations.

Nancy Boren is Muscogee County’s voter registrar:

"The Health Department and the Board of Elections decided to team together to have the elderly and those in need of a flu shot to get their flu shot at the same time that they vote."

And, Boren says, four early-voting stations in Columbus will be the first to administer those shots, from October twenty-seventh to the thirtieth.

A West Central Health District spokesperson says their sole intention "is to offer convenient influenza vaccinations at select early polling sites for our community members."
Professional nurses from two Columbus colleges will give the injections. They’ll costs $23 dollars apiece, and won’t require a prescription.

Boren says that while voting and vaccinations will be held at the same locations, one doesn’t depend on the other:

"You do not have to vote to get a shot, nor do you have to get a shot to vote, so, while they will be in the same area, there will be a separation between the two."

Health officials add that only people of voting age will be eligible to receive the immunization, but that age-appropriate shots are available at local health departments.

While only Muscogee and Cherokee counties have signed up so far, officials hope more of the 15 counties that make up the West Central Health District will take part.

A West Central Health District spokesperson says their sole intention "is to offer convenient influenza vaccinations at select early polling sites for our community members."

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Health insurer error exposes personal info

Thousands of Georgians insured under health provider Blue Cross/Blue Shield may be at identity risk following the mass mailings of claims documents to wrong addresses.

Georgia insurance officials estimate over 200,000 Explanation of Benefits letters sent by Blue Cross went to wrong addresses last week. Letters included information such as a patient’s name, ID number, and amounts charged and owed. And some letters included social security numbers.

State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine says sensitive medical information of patients could be exposed.

"I’d say it’s the most serious violation of any major insurer that we’ve had since I’ve been in office, and I’ve been in office for 14 years".

Blue Cross says an improperly tested computer system change is to blame. A company statement says this is an isolated incident, and that changes have been made to prevent a repeat problem. A spokeswoman says the percentage of social security numbers exposed was small.

Blue Cross has a little over 3-million policyholders in Georgia.

Health care group launches campaign

A health care advocacy group launched a multi-million dollar campaign in Atlanta today to press for reforming the American health care system.

Health Care for America Now is a coalition of more than 100, primarily left-of-center groups calling for cheaper and more comprehensive health insurance and health care.

Larry Pellegrini of the Georgia Rural Urban Summit, says the coalition plans to invest $40 million dollars to get their point across nationwide:

"…which would actually make it one of the largest, if not the largest campaign on a single issue that's ever been formed. The funding is already obtained, and we intend to make it an investment in reforms that will satisfy the needs of the people."

The group is touting a 10-point plan they want to see on the national agenda, including universal health care, a choice of private or public coverage, and equal access to treatment.

Organizers say their supporters include labor unions, women's and minority groups, medical practitioners, and small-business associations.

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Casey Cagle proposes health care plan

Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle today unveiled his plan for healthcare reform in Georgia.
Cagle chose a speech before the Atlanta Press Club to talk about his idea to get 1.7 million uninsured Georgians into the insurance fold.

He also wants to limit emergency room visits.

Cagle says he wants to establish a statewide public/private clinic system that would treat less life threatening illnesses that may not need an emergency room.

He also wants to establish what he calls a health marketplace through a state sponsored website where people can peruse insurance options.

"They can choose more providers, more competition, that are coming to the table as well as allow private physicians and hospitals to offer levels of care"

Companies, docotors and hospitals would voluntarily add their plans to the marketplace.

Cagle says next year he will also seek state funding for a pilot program to start 5 public/private health clinics.

Perdue health plan draws critics

Gov. Sonny Perdue is encountering road bumps as he tries to build enthusiasm for a plan to use government funds to encourage small businesses to provide health-care benefits.

Most of Georgia's small businesses do not offer health coverage to their employees, but Mike Sullivan, owner of Conyers-based Southeast Sealing Inc., does. He says it is breaking his budget.

"There are a lot of guys and women in this state who have small companies and who are being absolutely ripped apart by high health-care costs," Sullivan says. He welcomes Perdue's proposal to create a voluntary, state-run, health-insurance program for small businesses.

"It will cost someone a lot of money," Sullivan says. "I just hope that someone is not me."

The money is proving to be the sticking point. Perdue wants to subsidize the $182 million program with federal Medicaid grants and $20 million of state funds. That amount of money could cover roughly 30,000 low-income workers out of a pool of about 380,000.

The idea of using government funds to pay for the plan is drawing criticism where Perdue needs support the most: under the Gold Dome.

"Entitlement plans are not the way to solve the problem," says House Rules Chairman Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs). "If we really want to add something to this, let's have benefits for all taxpayers and let's do it through a tax credit, not through involuntary tax contributions."

Ehrhart says he doubts the General Assembly would approve Perdue's proposal without major changes.

Perdue plan targets uninsured workers

State officials say Georgia has one of the highest rates of uninsured residents in the nation: 18 percent. Most of those people work. But, many of them work for small companies that do not offer health care benefits.

"They want to provide this kind of coverage for their employees," Perdue says of small businesses. "It helps them to compete for the best talent. Morally and ethically, it's something that they want to do. They've literally been priced out of the market."

Perdue says small businesses should join together to buy health insurance for their employees under state-run plans. While state health officials describe the proposal as a "work in progress," they said it would include a plan that provides the same benefits that state employees get now. Companies could choose to offer cheaper alternatives.

Perdue says the state, the federal government, employers and employees would share the costs. The plan would target lower-income workers, although their better paid colleagues could get the same benefits at a higher cost.

If the legislature and the federal government support it, Perdue says the plan could go into effect by July.

Here are some highlights of the plan:

• It could cover approximately 380,000 employees of small businesses that do not offer health insurance.
• Employees must make less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify. For example, a family of four would have to make less than $62,000.
• The state government would pay $20 million, with the federal government, employers and employees paying the rest of the estimated $182 million tab.
• Georgia would be the first state in the nation to administer such a plan, although some other states require small businesses to offer health insurance benefits.

Presidential candidate Edwards visits Atlanta

Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards held fundraiser in Atlanta last night.

Edwards returned to health care as a major theme, saying his health care plan would offer full coverage for mental health and guarantee insurance coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions.

The plan would be funded by rolling back recent tax cuts on people making more than $200,000 a year and working to drive down insurance and drug company prices.

Shriners hospital could take Georgia children

Governor Sonny Perdue hopes a meeting with Shriners hospital officials can help some Georgia children on the Peach Care rolls.

Shriners officials came to Perdue with the idea to help some of Georgia's needy children get free treatment from a South Carolina hospital in their system. The facility in Greenville has some available capacity to treat children with certain conditions such as orthopedic problems, burns and spinal cord injuries.

Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley says if a deal can be struck, the arrangement could help many children of low-income families in the state's medical insurance programs.

"The real issue is...is there a way we can facilitate really good, positive health care for our children, and if there's a way we can do that and save the state some money as well, then obviously it's a win-win on both sides".

Tuesday's meeting was only an initial step. Fine-point details would first have to be worked out with state health officials before a second conference with Shriners hosptial officials.

Shriners hospitals are funded by private donations, and connected to the fraternal organization.