Tuesday Tidbits

• On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee will walk through a set of policy options outlined in this white paper to create funding for health care reform. All sorts of tax changes have been placed on the table. According to the Committee, "The policy options focus on increasing payment accuracy and reducing disparities in payment and spending amounts among different geographic regions across the country. Additionally, tax provisions are included that promote wellness and healthy lifestyle choices, as well as proposals President Obama included in his budget."

• Congress has sent to the President for his anticipated signature the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009 (S. 386) which bolsters the False Claims Act. The False Claims Act protects the federal government against contractor fraud. Modern Healthcare explains that "The changes to the False Claims Act come in response to a perception among some lawmakers that recent federal court decisions potentially restrained the law from achieving what Congress intended. False claims lawsuits often target hospitals, physicians and pharmaceutical companies because their businesses receive massive sums of federal dollars."

• The Federal Times reports that "The executive branch will grow [by 140,000 new employees] to more than 2 million civilian employees for the first time in 15 years, under President Barack Obama’s 2010 budget plan." That's 140,000 potential new FEHBP enrollees.