First House Democrat Joins Call To Repeal Healthcare Law.

CQ HealthBeat (9/16, Norman, subscription required) reports, "The first House Democrat on Wednesday signed on to a discharge petition that would force a vote on repealing the health care law," as "Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., signed on to a petition first launched in June that calls for a vote on HR 4972, which would repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." CQ notes that "any successful petition would need 218 signatures to bring the repeal bill out of committee and onto the House floor, which is unlikely as long as Democrats control the majority," yet "the petition serves as a vehicle for Republicans to continue to broadcast their criticism of the law."

        The Washington Times (9/16, Weber) also reports, "Mississippi Rep. Gene Taylor on Wednesday became the first Democratic House member to join 171 House Republicans in signing a petition to repeal the recently passed health care reform act." The Times points out that "Taylor is facing a re-election challenge in November from GOP state Rep. Steven Palazzo in the state's 4th District," and although "pollsters list the seat as 'safe Democrat,' sources say Mr. Taylor's decision to sign might indicate the race is much closer."

        According to Politico (9/16, Sherman), Taylor, who is a Blue Dog Democrat, "underscores how unpopular the legislation is in some conservative districts held by Democrats -- although he voted against the bill. Taylor, though, has bucked trends for years, holding onto the Gulf Coast seat since 1989." The Hill (9/16, Lillis) also reports the story in its Healthwatch blog.

        Dems Who Voted Against Healthcare Law Escape Retribution. Politico (9/15, Isenstadt) reports, "After 34 House Democrats voted against the health care bill in March, liberal groups and their allies in the labor movement vowed to exact revenge. The threats ranged from crippling primary election challenges to a withdrawal of support for some of the offending lawmakers," and "in a few cases, activists even went so far as to say they would run third-party candidates against the Democrats in November." But, Politico notes that "five months later, the group of 34 has emerged from primary season not much worse for the wear. Every one of the 30 lawmakers who voted against the health care bill and is seeking another term won re-nomination."

Administration, Advocates Seek To Promote Healthcare Law.

Politico (9/16, Haberkorn, Kliff) reports, "The White House and its allies are plotting campaigns they hope can bolster public opinion of the health care overhaul and improve the Democrats' chances at the polls this fall." This "law is one of the key planks in the wave of anti-government, anti-spending sentiment that threatens Democratic lawmakers this fall," and data show that "just 38 percent of Americans supported the overhaul in a Pew Research Center/National Journal Congressional Connection poll released earlier this week." Nevertheless, "the Obama administration and its allies hope tough new insurance restrictions due to go into effect Sept. 23 and an accompanying public relations push will help turn the tide and give Democrats campaign-ready ammunition six weeks ahead of the midterm elections."

        Benefits Of Health Reform Touted. McClatchy /Kaiser Health News (9/16, Carey) reports, "By Sept. 23, the six-month anniversary of the enactment of the health care overhaul, many of the law's provisions will be in effect," but "most consumers...won't see any changes until after Jan. 1." The piece goes on to discuss some of the benefits that consumers will gain from the new law, notes that thousands of Medicare beneficiaries have already received a $250 rebate check because of health reform, and says that "starting next year, beneficiaries will receive 50 percent discounts on brand name drugs and 7 percent discounts on generic drugs while they're in the coverage gap." Meanwhile, "some Republicans have threatened to block funding for implementing the law," and "others have called for repealing it outright," although "President Barack Obama probably would veto any legislation to gut the law."

Op-Ed: Repeal Amendment Would Give States Veto Power Over Federal Law.

Randy E. Barnett, a professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, and William J. Howell, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, write in a Wall Street Journal (9/16, subscription required) op-ed that next year, the Virginia Legislature will consider a Repeal Amendment which would allow states to strike down any federal law if two-thirds of states agree that the law seeks to implement a policy which is untenable. Currently, states have no recourse against federal law unless they sue the government in federal court, or attempt to amend the Constitution. Barnett and Howell emphasize that the Repeal Amendment would give states the power to overturn laws or regulations for reasons other than constitutional soundness. Thus, it would confer powers similar to the President's veto.

President Of Group Insurance Programs Says Health Reform Is Bound To Fail.

Samuel H. Fleet, president of a wholesale broker of comprehensive group insurance programs, writes in a Providence Journal (9/16) op-ed, "Albert Einstein famously said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result," and "it is ObamaCare that will bring this truism to life for people as they watch their health care evaporate and wonder why." He argues that "Congress and the Obama administration modeled the majority of their reforms after Massachusetts, ignoring all of its danger signs." Yet, "what we have in Massachusetts is insanity. And now, thanks to ObamaCare, we are about to do the same thing at the national level. Don't expect a different outcome."

Professor Says Report Showing Higher Medicaid Costs Under Health Reform "Flawed."

The Lincoln Journal Star (9/16, Hicks) says, "A report that says Nebraska's Medicaid costs will soar under federal health care reform is seriously flawed, according to a national Medicaid researcher. The Milliman report, being used by Gov. Dave Heineman to bash federal health care reform, seriously overestimates the net costs of Medicaid expansion to the state, wrote Leighton Ku, professor of Health Policy at the School of Public Health and Health Services at George Washington University and director of the Center for Health Policy Research." Notably, the "report's high cost estimates are based on the assumption that every Nebraskan who is eligible will use Medicaid," yet "no voluntary program ever experiences 100 percent participation," Ku wrote.

House Lawmakers Introduce Measure To Help Fight Medicare Fraud.

The Hill (9/16, Pecquet) reports in its Healthwatch blog, "The chairman and ranking member of the House Ways and Means health subcommittee introduced legislation Wednesday that would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to ban corporate executives from doing business with Medicare if their companies were convicted of fraud, even if the conviction takes place after their departure." The measure, "introduced by Reps. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) and Wally Herger (R-Calif.), would also give the HHS Office of the Inspector General the ability to exclude parent companies that may be committing fraud through shell companies."

Expert Says Most States Will Create Their Own Health Exchanges.

CQ HealthBeat (9/16, Adams, subscription required) reports, "Even though many governors are resisting the implementation of the new health care law this year, National Governors Association Executive Director Ray Scheppach predicted that many governors will ultimately want to create their own version of the most significant part of the new system -- the exchange markets that will begin in 2014." Scheppach says, "In the end, most states will, in fact, do the exchanges," because "if a state does not set up its own system, then HHS officials could come into the area and set up an exchange market there. Under a federally created exchange, governors might have less control over how much medical providers are paid and how the insurance system operates."

Waxman Says Medicare Bidding Program For Medical Equipment Should Proceed.

CQ HealthBeat (9/16, Reichard, subscription required) reports, "House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry A. Waxman said Wednesday that a controversial Medicare bidding program that would cut the costs of medical equipment such as wheelchairs and oxygen supplies should go forward under tight scrutiny." The lawmaker said that "he takes seriously the concerns of suppliers and some patients' groups that service and access to supplies could be undermined by the money-saving program, but" noted that "there is no evidence so far of that happening based on limited early tests of the approach." Meanwhile, Laurence D. Wilson, director of the chronic care policy group at CMS, "testified that the agency has conducted a baseline survey to measure consumer satisfaction with medical equipment supply." Wilson stated, "'CMS is committed to quickly address all comments and concerns from beneficiaries' found in the survey."

Humana Wins Medicare Advantage, Part D Plan Approvals For FY2011.

The Louisville (KY) Business First (9/16) reports that Humana has "won federal approval for its 2011 Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan offerings." According to an SEC filing, Humana's Part D drug plans will "offered in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and include a nationwide PDP co-branded with Wal-Mart." In addition, the company will offer HMO plans in "26 states" and PR; local PPO plans in "39 states" and PR; regional PPOs in "23 states in 14" MA regions; and various fee-for-service plans will be offered in as many as 34 states. Humana plans to release more details on Oct. 1; the MA plan enrollment season begins Nov. 15.

Aetna's Medicaid Unit Adds Five-Hospital Pennsylvania Health System To Network.

The Hartford (CT) Business News (9/16) reports, Aetna's "Medicaid managed care division has added the five-hospital Crozer-Keystone Health System" in Pennsylvania to its network. The new contract between "Aetna Better Health and Crozer-Keystone is effective immediately, although terms were not disclosed." Aetna Better Health also runs Medicaid programs in "Connecticut and Texas." The Philadelphia Business Journal (9/16, George) adds that Aetna Better Health began offering Medicaid managed care to Pennsylvania residents in April 1; at present, the plan has "about 30,000 members" in the state. RTT News (9/16) also reports the expansion.

CalPERS Initiates Informal Talks With Schwarzenegger Administration On Potential $2B Loan.

Bloomberg News (9/16, Marois) reports, CalPERS "said it is in talks" with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration on a "proposal to borrow $2 billion from the fund." CalPERS CEO Anne Stausboll said her "staff has been holding informal discussions" with Schwarzenegger's Finance Department on a proposal that would "credit the state with $2 billion this year as an advance on the roughly $74 billion the governor estimates the state would save during the next 30 years from his proposals to roll back" state pension benefits. Stausboll cautioned, however, that there are some "serious concerns about actuarial soundness, vested rights issues and IRS issues that could impact" CalPERS' tax-qualified status.

        Reuters (9/16, Christie) reports similar details. As does the Wall Street Journal (9/16, Woo, subscription required), which adds that a Schwarzenegger spokesperson said the governor has not been involved in the informal discussions because Finance officials are only exploring options at this time.

Data Show San Francisco Bay Area's Uninsured Rate Increased Nearly 5% During Recession.

The Wall Street Journal (9/16, Vara, subscription required) reports that high unemployment, and reductions in the number of persons employed per household, led to a substantive increase in uninsured San Francisco Bay Area-residents during the recession. In Santa Clara County, for example, nearly 20 percent of the residents went without health insurance for a portion of 2009. This compares to the almost 15 percent who were uninsured for some part of 2007, according to data released by UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Nearby San Mateo County made out only slightly better, with about 14 percent uninsured in 2009 compared to approximately 11 percent two years earlier. The Journal quotes the policy center's Health Insurance Studies Director Shana Alex Lavarreda as saying the Bay Area is approaching the dreaded statistic of "one in five people uninsured."

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