State news roundup: Ill. considers managed care audit, Okla. may strip licenses over abortions

Here are some highlights of healthcare news in Illinois, Oklahoma, Oregon, New Hampshire, Kansas and Mississippi.

Illinois considering audit of Medcaid insurers

State lawmakers in Illinois have introduced legislation that would request an audit of Medicaid insurers by the Illinois Auditor General.

The probe would include examining how much state funding has gone into Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs), and which individuals enrolled in those organizations have seen improved health outcomes.

It would also look at the rate and reimbursement issues, such as whether the state is paying more on emergency room usage for MCOs compared to fee-for-service models.

The audit would follow a 2012 Medicaid state law that pushed more beneficiaries in Illinois into managed care.

Oklahoma physicians could lose license for performing abortion

With the signature of Oklahoma’s governor, it would become a felony for a physician to perform an abortion in the state. The bill would also prohibit a physician from renewing or obtaining a medical license.

The bill passed with no discussion or debate in the Oklahoma Senate, according to the Associated Press. The legislation has been opposed by the Oklahoma State Medical Association, which said in a statement the proposal is “unconstitutional” and “places a chilling effect on physicians’ practice in Oklahoma.”

The chamber’s only physician, Republican State Sen. Ervin Yen, MD, voted against the measure, calling it “insane.”

A spokesperson for Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin declined to say whether Fallin would sign the measure. She has five days to either sign it or veto it, otherwise it will become law without her approval.

Oregon hospitals promise 3-day cost estimate on procedures

The Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems will provide cost estimates for scheduled procedures within three days, reported The Oregonian.

The policy would only apply to uninsured or out-of-network patients, as the association said 95 percent of Oregon consumers can get cost estimates through their insurer.

“It's another step to give patients the tools they need to make decisions,” said Andy Van Pelt, the association’s executive vice president.

New Hampshire to investigate opioid drug marketing

New Hampshire’s attorney general is hiring an outside law firm to investigate whether drug manufacturers in the state have marketed opioids in a deceptive fashion, reported New Hampshire Public Radio.

"The intent of this is to commence an investigation, not a lawsuit, to see whether they are mis-marketing their products to say things like they are not addictive, because they are long acting,” said Attorney General Joe Foster. “We want to look at those sorts of marketing practices to see whether they are going on in the state of New Hampshire.”

Interstate licensure compact grows to 16 states

Kansas and Mississippi became the 15^th and 16^th states to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact with new laws being signed by governors in both states.

If physicians are licensed in those states, they’ll be able to apply for an expedited license in other states which have joined the compact, potentially cutting down a months-long process to a few weeks, according to the Federation of State Medical Boards.

Arizona and New Hampshire recently joined the compact. Colorado may be next, as a similar authorization bill is awaiting action by its governor.