E-mail from Tim Rogers to NC Legislators - CCME Percentages Inaccurate per Secretary Cansler

From: Tim Rogers 
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009
To: NC Legislators
Subject: E-mail from Tim Rogers to Legislators

Dear North Carolina Legislator:

I want to share with you new information I have received since my last note (about the misleading chart HHS gave legislators, claiming 45% of the Medicaid patients receiving home care were ineligible). 

That chart was based on reviews by CCME, a vendor to HHS.  Friday, I had a note from Secretary Cansler stating he was informed several weeks ago – in a meeting with Senator Clary – the CCME percentages were wrong. 

In addition, Thursday, we received information (attached) from HHS that the Department had decided, after receiving the study, not to notify even one of the 899 patients CCME said were ineligible that they would no longer receive care; it is also clear from the records we have received most of the patients continue to receive care with the Department’s approval.

HHS paid the vender (CCME) $1.29 million dollars for this study.  As part of the study, HHS paid CCME a fee of $360 for every patient it reviewed.  ($360 equals one-half the average cost of a month’s home care for a patient of $750.)

So, per the attached, HHS paid over a million dollars for the study, almost all of the patient reviews were reversed by the Department, then the Department gave the study to legislators knowing it was inaccurate.

As ever, thank you for allowing me to keep you informed.

Sincerely,