CMS Slaps Down Humana Over Lobbying Letter

The insurance company Humana is under fire from Medicare itself, for spreading misinformation about health insurance reform and its possible effects on Medicare coverage. Humana was sending letters to Humana Medicare members which were essentially lobbying their position, something not allowed.

Medicare providers are only allowed to communicate with plan members about the benefits they have now, not about possible changes to benefits. Nor are providers allowed to use such communications to lobby for legislation.

Here's what the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) wrote to Humana:

CMS has learned that Humana has been contacting enrollees in one or more of its plans and alleging that current health care reform legislation affecting Medicare could hurt "millions of seniors and disabled individuals [who] could lose many of the important benefits and services that make Medicare advantage health plans so valuable." The message makes several other claims about the legislation and how it will be detrimental to enrollees, ultimately urging enrollees to contact their congressional representatives to protest the actions referenced in the letter.

CMS is concerned that, among other things, this information is misleading and confusing to beneficiaries, represents information to beneficiaries as official communications about the Medicare Advantage program, and is potentially contrary to federal regulations and guidance for the MA and Part D programs and other federal law, including HIPAA. As we continue our research into this issue, we are instructing you to end immediately all such mailings to beneficiaries and to remove any related materials directed to Medicare enrollees from your website.

It's been interesting to watch the health insurance debate, and see seniors telling Congress that they want government to keep its hands off their Medicare, which is a government program. What they're really saying is "don't reduce my benefits," which is what this scare campaign is all about.

Finger Bitten Off at Health Care Reform Demonstration

First a health care reform supporter was slugged at a town hall, and now the supporters have gone opponents one better. Not that it's a good thing, mind you. The finger of a health care opponent was bitten off at a demonstration, not town hall, in Thousand Oaks, CA.

What's interesting is that the victim has ... ta da ... Medicare. That's one thing that's been notable in some town halls. Despite the fact that Medicare is government run, one person, for example, said that government had to keep its hands off his Medicare.

Ventura County Sheriff's Capt. Frank O'Hanlon said about 100 people demonstrating in favor of health care reforms rallied Wednesday night on a street corner. One protester walked across the street, and got into a fist fight with one of about 25 counter-demonstrators.

O'Hanlon said that during the fist fight, the man bit off the left pinky of a 65-year-old male counter-protester. The attacker fled but authorities say they have a good description.

A hospital spokeswoman says the top joint of the man's pinky was bitten off, including the entire fingernail. It was not reattached. The hospital added that the man had Medicare.

The United States lacks universal health care, unlike all other wealthy nations, leaving those uninsured to fend for themselves. Most health insurance is obtained through employers, and almost 50 million Americans are without it.

Bill Moyers recently said that Universal Health Care is representative of a deeply moral society. Despite that, those on the right, who champion "right to live," are against it.