Greg Abbott Obtains MAJOR Medicaid Fraud settlement from Planned Parenthood

Score one for the Good Guys:

Texas Attorney General’s Office Obtains $1.4 Million Settlement against Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast for Medicaid Fraud

Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast fraudulently billed Texas Medicaid program for products, services either not provided or not necessary

HOUSTON – The Texas Attorney General’s Office today concluded the State’s Medicaid fraud investigation into Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Inc. Under today’s agreement, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast must pay $1.4 million for fraudulently overbilling the taxpayer-funded Medicaid program.

Read the whole release here.

One of our worries about Greg Abbott's gubernatorial campaign has been whether the day to day operations of the AG's office would suffer as a result; obviously, at least for now, the answer is no.

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On Texas Democrats favorite Abortion Talking Point

One of the Democrats favorite talking points during the current abortion debate is that the proposed legislation is opposed by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Texas Hospital Association, and the Texas Medical Association.

At first, it sounds important.  These are groups with 'credentials.'    The real story requires digging.

First up, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supported Obamacare:

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has long been a proponent of comprehensive health care reform and this weeks' enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care for America Act extends health insurance coverage to an additional 32 million Americans. "Ob-gyns see first-hand the devastating effects that the lack of health insurance or underinsurance has on our patients," noted ACOG President Gerald F. Joseph, Jr, MD.

ACOG credits the President and House and Senate Democratic leaders for including many critical elements of ACOG's Health Care for Women, Health Care for All campaign that will greatly improve women's health, including guaranteed maternity coverage; eliminating pre-existing coverage exclusions for women who are pregnant, have had a previous cesarean, or are the victims of domestic violence; eliminating gender rating that causes women to pay more than men for the same insurance coverage; creating coordinated care centers for women and ensuring direct access to ob-gyns; expanding family planning services for low-income women; and providing access to vital preventive screenings including mammography and Pap tests.

This bill (HR 3590), however, leaves several critical issues unaddressed, including medical liability reform and repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) used to determine physician payments in the Medicare program. "As ACOG embraces the many positive features of this legislation that will improve the health and well-being of our patients, we will continue to press for national medical liability reform and repeal of the SGR," says Dr. Joseph.

In addition, during the 2009 debate over Obamacare, ACOG recommended rationing of Pap Smears.

Next, we have the Texas Hospital association, who support Medicaid expansion:

“Hospitals agree with the governor that the Medicaid program is flawed. Below-cost reimbursement to providers creates an access-to-care problem for the millions currently enrolled, and there have been legitimate concerns about whether the program can sustain the millions more who would be able to enroll under PPACA,” said Dan Stultz, M.D., FACP, FACHE, THA president chief executive officer. “However, without Medicaid expansion, many will remain uninsured and therefore will seek care in emergency rooms, shifting costs to the privately insured and increasing uncompensated care to health care providers.”

In addition, THA supported last fall's Hospital Tax Increase in Travis County. 

Moving on, Texas Medical Association ALSO supports Medicaid Expansion:

The Texas Medical Association, which represents physicians across the state, announced on Saturday that it would support the Medicaid expansion if lawmakers can devise a way to give Texas “the flexibility to change the plan as our needs and circumstances change.”

“You have the two major entities that represent the delivery of health care in Texas saying this is something that we definitely need to look at,” said Dr. Carlos Cardenas, vice president of the TMA board of trustees, adding the organization recognizes “there are issues within the present Medicaid program and that the Legislature is in a position to come up with some reforms to shore up the system.”

BOTTOM LINE: Three organizations with long histories of supporting progressive legislation are opposed to conservative legislation; sorry Texas Democrats, that's not news.

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Ramparts 360: Texas Senate Does It's Job, House Drags it's feet

A Must Read Piece from Ramparts 360; re-posted in full:

Texas Senate Does Its Job, House Reps Drag Their Feet

by Sibyl West | May 14, 2013 | Citizen Report

“This is probably the first session I’ve seen in a long time where the Texas Senate has been far more conservative than the House. They’ve [the Senate] managed to pass meaningful legislation that conservatives support while the House has twiddled their thumbs, waiting for time to run out.”

- Eliza Vielma, AFP Legislative Affairs & New Media

What’s up at the TxLege? Well there doesn’t seem to be much sense of urgency in the house. Yet. They’re still in the tease-the-reporters phase. Over at Trailblazers we find this:

“Asked if he was keeping all his options open, Pitts downplayed the referral of the bill by Straus’ office to Appropriations. ‘Uh, they didn’t refer a lot of Senate bills until now,’ he said.” [Pitts is saying Straus didn't refer the bills until now.]

Continue reading Pitts won’t say if House will punt water-fund issue to voters

Senators are very concerned about the House’s slow pace with only 13 days left in the 83rd Legislative Session. It’s now or never to push the House to do the job we sent them there to do and get some of these important bills heard.

Details – Great Conservative Senate Bills  that the House needs to push to pass:

• SB 2 – Expanding Charter School Cap – This bill was placed on the General State Calendar for this week, but just got taken off the agenda and is back in calendars again.
• SB 7 – Health Care Savings - Description here; currently sitting in calendars
• SB 8 – Targets Medicaid Fraud; sitting in calendars
• SB 11 – Drug testing before receiving benefits; Hasn’t been heard in House Human Services yet
• SB 12 – Allowing admission of more evidence in a trial re: sexual offenses committed against a child – Background here; sitting in calendars
• SB 21 – Drug screening before receiving unemployment benefits; sitting in calendars
• SB 149 – Clarifies and Strengthens conflict of interest provisions at Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT);  made it out of committee, headed to calendars.
• SB 150 – Paying down debt of CPRIT through their collected royalties, etc to help alleviate taxpayer cost; sitting in House Public Health
• SB 1263 – Parent Trigger (Ed Reform); sitting in House Public Education Committee
• SB 1406 – CSCOPE Oversight; Placed on General State Calendar for tomorrow (5/15)
• SB 1458 – Revisions to Teacher Retirement System of Texas law in relation to benefits; sitting in calendars
• SB 1655 – Financial Relief for Electric Customers; Relating to authorizing the Public Utility Commission of Texas to direct the comptroller to return the unappropriated balance of the system benefit fund to retail electric customers; sitting in House State Affairs

I hope you’ve got your rep on speed dial. Let’s get to work. Click here to find out who represents you.

Cahnman's Musings has intended to put together something like this for awhile; thanks to Ramparts360 for doing so.

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Revised Priorities for the 83rd Texas Legislature

Back in February, Cahnman's Musings published this list of big ticket items for the 83rd Texas Legislature; heading into the final six weeks of the session, these are our revised priorities:

1. Gold, gold, gold - Rep. Giovanni Capriglione has proposed building a depository to store Gold bullion.  Governor Perry supports this effort.  Repatriating our own gold, and creating a safe haven for others' gold, will enable Texas to withstand the coming global economic [REDACTED]storm.  In a world where bank deposits are being confiscated, safety has value.  Accomplishing this task will allow us to live to fight another day.
   
2. School Choice - K-12 education is 40% of state spending.  Keeping long-term education spending under control is essential to keep the budget under control.  Putting the money in the hands of parents instead of educrats will also help pre-empt future CSCOPE's.
   
3. Medicaid - Medicaid expansion is economic suicide; just say no.
   
4. Transparency/Pensions - As we said in February: "Local government debt in Texas is $324 billion.  Pension obligations are a big chunk of that debt.  The interrelated issues of local debt and pension obligations are a time bomb the legislature should defuse before it becomes a crisis."
   
5. Texas Budget Compact - This is Rick Perry's baby.  To our knowledge, he isn't doing bupkus to get it passed.  Cahnman's Musings was an early supporter of the Texas Budget Compact, but if Rick Perry isn't going to do squat to pass his signature initiative, why should we?!?

There's still time to pass every item on this list.  These are structural reforms that will strengthen Texas' economy for the next generation.  If the 83rd Texas legislature delivers on these five items, Cahnman's Musings can live with a lot of other crap.

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BREAKING NEWS: Rick Perry Caves on Obamacare

Sigh:

Governor Rick Perry reverses position on Medicaid Expansion
by,
Abe Rill Phuelez
April, 1st 2013

Austin, TX -- Citing a need to 'embrace political moderation' and fear of 'being called mean by Democrats,' Texas Governor Rick Perry today reversed his position on expanding Medicaid under the 2010 Federal Health Care Law.

"In 2012, Mitt Romney decisively won independents and the results speak for themselves.  Texans should embrace political moderation to achieve similar results," Perry said.  "As Governor, I fear being called mean by Democrats so much that I would rather expand a bankrupt Medicaid program."

Medicaid expansion will split Texas Republicans.  Representative David Simpson and Senator Donna Campbell issued a joint statement calling the move 'heartbreaking and inexplicable.'  Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, by contrast, hailed Perry's decision as "the best news I've heard all session."

Battleground Texas Reacts

Jeremy Bird, President Obama's handpicked choice to rebuild Texas Democrats, echoed Straus' sentiments.

"Battleground Texas is ecstatic Governor Perry has joined the tradition of former Virginia state senator John Chichester and former Colorado Governor Bill Owens by preemptively expanding government" said Bird. "As we recently made clear, Battleground Texas does not yet posses the resources we need to win.  Medicaid expansion is the taxpayer financed slush fund of Battleground Texas' dreams."

Former George W. Bush speechwriter Mark McKinnon called the move 'a strategic milestone' for Democrats.  "The long-term objective of the Democrat party is subvert traditional American virtues of individual sovereignty and self-reliance and to replace them with a spirit of fear and dependence on Caesar.  Any system that traps another million souls in a substandard health-care system is a slam dunk win for Texas Democrats."

Julian Castro salivates

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, the political figure most widely expected to benefit from Medicaid expansion, issued the following statement:

"I am delighted Governor Perry chose to reject common-sense Medicaid reforms like Federal block granting in favor of the mother of all payola schemes for Texas Democrats.  Socialized medicine will allow me to establish a protection racket for a statewide run in a way that felony corporate contributions never could.  Medicaid expansion will be Julian Castro's personal Tammany Hall.

Tea Party activists were too busy fighting among themselves to comment.

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Texas Tribune: Battleground Texas Reveals Their Weaknesses

The Texas Tribune had an interview yesterday with Jeremy Bird, the director of Battleground Texas.  In the interview, Bird tips his hand on strategy.  Some highlights:

Dems plan to boost turnout (and, even though they don't say it out loud, fraud):

Bird contends that Republicans' confidence is based on elections in which only about half of the state has turned out to vote. “We’ll see what happens when we start to get 60 or 65 or 70 percent turnout. It’s going to look very different,”

 This is a point conservatives would do well to heed.  The Obama campaign made it a priority to register marginal voters and get them to the polls.  There's no reason to believe they couldn't make headway with a similar effort in Texas.  The caution to Democrats, however, is that this is a double-edged sword.  There are dozens (if not hundreds) of people who don't vote in every Church across this state.

Bird reveals their timetable:

Part of the reason that [the Obama campaign] won Florida in 2012 is that we had had a grassroots program running for six years with all the components — digital, communications, field, data, analytics — all of them put together into a 21st century modern campaign that worked for people's votes.

Six years from today would mean that Democrats intend to compete statewide around 2018.  That's not impossible, but it does mean there's plenty of time between now and then for events to intervene.  Personally, we think the global economy will collapse before Battleground Texas has time to execute this plan; when that happens, it will reshuffle the deck of domestic politics in a way Battleground Texas doesn't anticipate.

The specifics of how they plan to boost turnout:

We have to do that here. And it can’t just happen in one part of the state; it has to happen across the state. We need to touch places where we’re getting 25 percent of the vote and get 32 percent of the vote. It’s not necessarily about winning all those places, but we have to compete there. And then we have to have higher turnout in places that have already gone blue.

The point about going from 25 percent to 32 percent in hostile territory is an interesting one Cahnman's Musings had not thought about.  That's a good strategy in a vacuum.  However, like we said earlier, it's a strategy that cuts both ways.  We live in Austin, and there is an untapped pool of potential conservative voters right here.  Both sides are going to work overtime to boost turnout.

Then, almost as an afterthought, Bird lets the cat out of the bag:

In order to do this right, we’re going to have to raise the money, the grassroots money to do it and then ultimately transition that into a 21st century campaign with real organizers in neighborhoods working for every single vote.

If you only take one point away from this post, make it this one: the left doesn't (yet) have the money to pull this off.  The ONLY WAY they will get the money they need is if Republicans expand state government for them.  That's how the left took over Colorado.  That's why School Choice and Medicaid are such important fights.  The left will only acquire the resources necessary to swing Texas if Republicans give them a bigger government from which to siphon money.

Finally, Bird closes out with a cryptic (and bizarre) statement:

There are millions of kids in this state who are currently being denied access to health insurance because of the current governor.

We have no idea what Bird's talking about, but our educated guess is that he's talking about Rick Perry's refusal to expand Medicaid under Obamacare. That's bizarre; Medicaid is a failed program that exploits the vulnerable.  If Battleground Texas wants to make expanding substandard Health Care their central argument, go for it!

Bottom line: The Left intends to get more of their people to the polls than they have in the past (which will also make fraud easier).  Cahnman's Musings expects them to pull that off.  What the left cannot control, however, is turnout on our side.  There are plenty of untapped potential Conservative voters in this state; Cahnman's Musings goes to Church with hundreds of them.  The challenge for conservatives in Texas will be to increase engagement among folks who already agree with us but don't necessarily vote.

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By Popular Demand: Governor Rick Perry -- CPAC 2013

Governor Perry gave a barnburner of a speech today in Washington where he also tipped his hand about the coming fight in Texas over Medicaid:

Highlights:

• Releasing dangerous foreign nationals into the United States and blaming the sequester was a 'federally sponsored jailbreak.'

• "There's nothing free that comes from Washington."
• Me: Amen to that!!!

• "All we have is a promise from a Federal Government that apparently can't afford to lock up dangerous criminals."

• After repeating his unwavering opposition to expanding Medicaid under Obamacare, Governor Perry then laid out his alternative in more detail than I've heard before:
• Patient-Centered Reforms
• Flexibility for States to Innovate
• Higher co-pays for Medicaid services to discourage overconsumption
• Asset tests for Medicaid benefits.
• HSA's for the poor.

•  "We care about the Health of our citizens more than Washington."

• On Economic Growth: "It just so happens that balanced budgets and one of the lowest tax and spending burdens in the nation corresponds with our #1 ranking when it comes to jobs created."

• We don't believe growing government grows the economy.

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Empower Texans: Straus Seeks Sugarcoat for Medicaid Expansion

Sigh, leave it to Joe Straus to attempt to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory; money quote:

A month after confessing his desire for the Legislature to have a conservation about Medicaid expansion, Speaker Straus now says it’s time to “get our heads out of the sand” in order to find a “Texas solution.” The problem? His idea of a solution is really nothing more than a sugarcoated version of what the Obama Administration is already offering.

....

Knowing that Medicaid expansion under the current terms proposed by the Obama Administration is completely off the table, members of the grow-government crowd in the Capitol have been speculating about what type of “compromise” the Legislature might agree to with the Obama Administration.

The most common idea thrown against the wall would mimic the recent Arkansas deal struck with the feds, permitting the billions of federal tax dollars to be used to subsidize the purchase of private insurance for everyone making less than 133% of the federal poverty level.

Private insurance instead of a government bureaucracy? How innovative! How flexible! Or at least so they say…

Not discussed about the Arkansas plan is the requirement that these private insurance plans match the same benefits and cost-sharing requirements as what would otherwise be mandated under the original Medicaid expansion offer.

Couple that with the fact that private insurance premiums are set to skyrocket thanks to the litany of regulations set by ObamaCare, and you come up with a system that costs on average $3,000 more per person under virtually the same conditions originally put forth by the federal government.

 Folks who oppose the Medicaid expansion need to contact their legislators.

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Medicaid, circa 2017

Last week, on the blogger conference call Governor Perry pointed out that:

Washington is going to run out of money in 3-4 years, at which point the states will be on the hook for the full cost; that's when they're going to start pushing single-payer.

That is a point that cannot be repeated often enough.  Washington is going to run out of money.  When that happens, the Medicaid burden will fall on states.  When that happens, expanded Medicaid will be an economic anvil for participating states.  States that resist the lure of Medicaid expansion today will reap tremendous benefits in 3 to 4 years when Washington runs out of money.

Expanding the current Medicaid system is an economic suicide pact.

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Texas House Republicans do the right thing (for now) on Medicaid

Phew; Texas House Republicans voted overwhelmingly to support Governor Perry and not expand Medicaid.

This should take Medicaid expansion under Obamacare off the table until after the next election. (Update: No, it won't).

I'll (still) take it.

Update II: Sunshine State Sarah (of Texas) reports more good news out of Florida.

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ACTION ALERT: Texas House Republicans Cave on Obamacare?!?

Wow; according to RedState, Texas House Republicans are going wobbly on Obamacare:

Republican Texas State Representatives will [meet] at 1pm CT today consider caving on Obamacare.

According to our sources, both inside and outside the legislature, that's not going to happen.  Texas House Republicans seem to understand the folly of Medicaid expansion.  Still, it never hurts to remind them how you feel.

First, contact YOUR legislator via the link above; also, we recommend you also contact House Speaker Joe Straus; the Texas House Speaker website doesn't give the number to his Capital Office, but you can reach his district office at (210) 828-4411.

Update: You can also reach the Speaker on Twitter: @speakerstraus

Empower Texans has more here.

Update II (7 pm): Texas House Republicans did the right thing.

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Governor Rick Perry on Limiting Spending, School Choice, and Medicaid

Governor Rick Perry spoke to Texas Bloggers tonight thanks to Americans for Prosperity -- Texas.  The Governor had about ten minutes of opening remarks then took questions for 25 minutes.  The following are from my notes:

• Conservative fiscal policies have "consistently paid dividends" through good times and bad.

• While the Legislature is in town: "everyone wants a piece of the money."

• The basics: Keep spending and taxes low, predictable regulatory climate, fair court system.

• Not only should Texas hold the line on taxes, we should lower the tax burden.

• Texas has the third highest High School graduation rates in the U.S. today.

• Different children learn with different goals in mind.

• Allow education dollars to follow the Child.

• I "really support" Dan Patrick on School Choice.

• Medicaid:
• We could have a healthier population for less money but Washington refuses to allow us to spend our own money how we see fit.
• Washington is going to run out of money in 3-4 years, at which point the states will be on the hook for the full cost; that's when they're going to start pushing single-payer.

• Texas Budget Compact:
• We began the process early so the idea could be distilled properly.
• The Legislature "will vote on this."
• Straus will "allow the will of the House to prevail."

• Other than that, the Governor also discussed various ideas for tax relief; while the Governor hasn't committed to any particular idea, he did promote this website for any Texans who want to make suggestions as to what form tax relief should take.

Update: Pondering Penguin has more here.

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URGENT: Oppose Texas Medicaid Expansion

Americans for Prosperity -- Texas has an urgent action alert to stiffen the spines of Texas Legislators in opposing the fiscally suicidal Medicaid expansion in Obamacare:

Texas joined 25 other states in challenging the federal government arguing that the expansion of Medicaid in the President’s health care law was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court agreed calling the expansion a “gun to the head.” Now, supporters of the law are urging Texas to reverse its position and expand the broken, costly Medicaid system.

Read more: http://www.kintera.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=9hJILXMCKbKYE&b=6611291&aid=519352#ixzz2LvP5InWI

 Many legislators are cowards, even in Texas (especially the House); make sure to make your voice heard on this URGENT fiscal priority.

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Big Ticket Items for the 83rd Texas Legislature

With the 83rd Texas Legislature one-third over, and conservatives off to a bad start, it's time to re-group and prioritize.  To protect and strengthen Texas' economy, we need to alter the trajectory of state spending.  The following five items will maintain Texas as place where entrepreneurs can risk their capital and achieve a decent rate of return.

1. Texas Budget Compact -- Cahnman's Musings was an early supporter of the Texas Budget Compact.  It remains our top priority, though we remain frustrated with Governor Perry's timidity.  Limiting government spending is the foundation of prosperity.
   
   
2. School Choice -- In order to limit state spending, you have to get education under control.  K-12 Education remains 40% of state spending.  For that money, K-12 education remains an array of boondoggles and bureaucracy.  The CSCOPE scandal re-enforces what we already knew about public education.  In order to keep state spending under control (and pre-empt the next CSCOPE), you need to take education dollars out of the hands of bureaucrats and put it into the hands of parents.
   
3. Medicaid -- Medicaid has been the fastest growing component of state spending for two decades.  In 2001, Medicaid was 14% of the budget; today it's 25%.  If the Obamacare Medicaid expansion goes through, that will rise to 33%.  Medicaid is a broken program that hurts the poor.  We can't keep pouring money we don't have into a program that doesn't work.
   
4. Pensions/Transparency -- Local government debt in Texas is $324 billion.  Pension obligations are a big chunk of that debt.  The interrelated issues of local debt and pension obligations are a time bomb the legislature should defuse before it becomes a crisis.
   
5. Repeal the Margins Tax -- This atrociously designed tax is unworthy of a state like Texas; end it, don't mend it.

In business, the Pareto principle states that you get 80% of your results from 20% of your activity; this list is that 20%.

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