| |
| | PUERTO RICO HERALD: Some See Puerto Rico As Separate Region; Link With Florida Rejected (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-20) |
 | | In an Aug. 5 letter to CMS, Johnny Rullan, M.D., of the Puerto Rico Dept. of Health asserts that the HHS Secretary is authorized specifically to create MA regions for U.S. territories, and that these territories, including Puerto Rico, are not subject to the 50-region statutory ceiling. |
 | | Rullan notes Puerto Rico was combined with Florida in each of the multistate region options presented at CMS's July meeting, Yet while Florida is geographically closest to Puerto Rico, he describes Florida and Puerto Rico as disparate in terms of economy, health care systems and infrastructure, and patient demographics. |
 | | Also, Florida's average health status is lower, he says, so when estimated payment rates are adjusted for health status, Florida's rate rises by nearly $65 a month while Puerto Rico's monthly rate increases by a mere 70 cents. |
| www.puertorico-herald.org /issues/2004/vol8n51/LiveEd/SomeSee.shtml (596 words) |
|