State Highlights: Incidents Call Into Question Mass. Mental Health Care System; Texas ‘Granny Tax’ Sparks Nursing Homes Debate
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, Texas, Kansas, Connecticut, Washington, Tennessee, California and Wisconsin.
Boston Globe:
In Massachusetts’ Failing Mental Health Care System, Even The Lucky Ones Aren’t So Lucky
James Boyd Jr.’s death is one of seven recent incidents involving Department of Mental Health clients that illuminate a growing concern inside the state agency: that the department is releasing a steady stream of people with serious mental illness to live in the community without proper supervision. While thousands with serious mental illness struggle to get any help, the roughly 21,000 Department of Mental Health clients are promised treatment at state-run facilities and state-funded programs in the community that are operated by private vendors... But the string of incidents raises questions about whether the department is doing enough to ensure the safety of its clients and the public. (Helman and Russell, 3/25)
San Antonio Press-Express:
Nursing Homes Joust Over Fee Proposal: ‘Granny Tax’ Or Funding Lifeline?
Nursing homes that are stretched thin as they care for Medicaid residents are asking lawmakers to approve a fee on their facilities that would allow Texas to get hundreds of millions of matching federal dollars to boost their low reimbursements. But the idea has generated a backlash from nursing homes that serve private-pay patients and object to paying the proposed assessment, which they call a “granny tax.” Their private-pay patients are outside of Medicaid, and the homes aren’t confident of promises that they’ll be otherwise repaid for their share of the fees that would trigger more Medicaid dollars. (Fikac, 3/25)
KCUR:
Kansas Mental Health Centers Seek Exemption From Gun Law
Unless the Legislature makes a change, community mental health centers across Kansas will have to allow patients and staff to bring their guns starting in July. A 2013 state law requires most publicly owned buildings to allow concealed weapons or to install metal detectors and post armed guards. The law included a four-year exemption for community mental health centers, universities, publicly owned medical facilities, nursing homes and low-income health clinics that ends July 1. (Wingerter, 3/24)
The CT Mirror:
Anthem’s Cost Savings At Center Of Merger Suit Appeal Argument
Anthem and the Justice Department faced off in court Friday over the insurer’s proposed merger with Cigna, with the legal wrangling centered on whether any savings from the deal would justify shrinking the market for large employer insurance policies from four to three carriers. A federal district court in February sided with the Justice Department – and 11 states including Connecticut – in blocking the $54 billion merger. (Radelat, 3/24)
Seattle Times:
Nurses Gain Traction In Legislature On Bills To Address ‘Dangerous’ Staffing
For years, nurses have gone to Olympia, imploring lawmakers to understand that staffing problems were placing patient care at risk. There are constant staff shortages that force nurses to forgo meals and bathroom breaks in order to properly care for patients. There are the 12-hour nursing shifts that grow longer due to scheduling issues. There are nurse-to-patient ratios that seem to grow more dangerous. Nurses returned to Olympia this week to reiterate those messages to the Legislature yet again. But this time they have more optimism that lawmakers are listening. (Baker, 3/26)
Boston Globe:
New State Rules For Long-Term Care Insurance Forgo Limits On Rate Hikes
After five years of fits and starts, Massachusetts regulators are close to adopting rules that would increase oversight of long-term care insurance, a market that has been roiled by skyrocketing premiums for consumers and declining profits for insurance companies. But some consumers and advocates argue that the proposals would not do enough to protect policyholders from the escalating costs of long-term care insurance, which helps pay for nursing homes, home health services, and assisted living. (Fernandes, 3/26)
Nashville Tennessean:
Can Nashville Find Cure For Price Blindness In Health Care?
“Price blindness,” or a lack of price transparency, affects healthcare consumers across the U.S. Pricing is so opaque that even many doctors and hospitals can’t estimate what a service might cost, leaving patients no options to compare or price-shop. This problem is unique to healthcare — can you imagine driving a car off the dealer’s lot and getting a bill in the mail later? Would you buy a television at Best Buy without a quick Amazon search? Most of us would not, but until recently, there just wasn’t a way for consumers to easily compare costs in healthcare. But Nashville companies like Healthcare Bluebook and MD Save are trying to change that, especially as consumers pick up more of the costs of their care. (Tolbert, 3/26)
Los Angeles Times:
L.A. Officials Push For New Steps To Address Health Risks From Homebuilding Near Freeways
In a new push to address health risks from a surge in residential construction near freeways, Los Angeles officials have requested a study of development restrictions, design standards and other steps to protect residents from traffic pollution. Planning, transportation and other officials should prepare “strategies to address the hazard of freeway pollution affecting residents of new and existing structures,” according to a motion filed this week by councilmen Jose Huizar and Paul Koretz. These could include buffer zones and barriers, air filtration requirements and regulations on building design. (Barboza and Zahniser, 3/24)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
State Nearly Returned Suspended Psychologist To Wisconsin's Youth Prison
State officials last year were on the verge of returning a suspended psychologist to his job at Wisconsin’s troubled juvenile prison, but backed off after a prosecutor said he could be charged with falsifying records, state records show. After learning of possible charges, the Department of Corrections kept psychologist Wilson Fowle on paid leave and began its own investigation. Six weeks later, Fowle retired and by the end of 2016 agreed to surrender his psychology license. (Marley, 3/24)
Boston Globe:
Dozens Of Industries Could See A Boost From Legalized Marijuana
A Swiss company that for years has provided Massachusetts with cigarette tax stamp services — helping the state thwart the black market — has its eyes set on what could be a much bigger public contract: tracking legal marijuana from seed to sale to keep it from being diverted to criminal enterprises... Such product tracing is one of dozens of industries that could see a big boom in business when recreational marijuana shops, growhouses, testing facilities, and infused-product manufacturers (think candy and brownies) open in Massachusetts, probably next year. (Miller, 3/27)