Page 2- The Michigan Daily -Thursday, February 22, 1990
Too much to shovel
A snow plow moves huge masses of ice and snow on North Universityi
STEVEN SZUCH/Daily
in front of Angell Hall.
MEDICAID
Continued from Page 1
end of these policies, .
In "A Guide to Substandard
Care," one of several reports the
DSA presented to the U.S. Congress
last year, the organization pointed
out that under the Michigan's Medi-
caid program, a Medicaid recipient
who is 21 or older can not be given
just one or two false teeth. Instead,
the patient may have to have as
many as ten healthy teeth removed
so the person can receive dentures.
Blair Dean, Michigan Medicaid
policy coordinator, said all four front
teeth and "either arch" - all of the
top or bottom teeth - must be
missing in order for a patient to re-
ceive a "partial denture."
But Clement said most Medi-
caid officials would not realize that
such a policy means the removal of
all teeth. "If you asked a group of
Medicaid policy officials what (their
policies) mean, there would be con-
fusion," he said.
"The total removal of one's en-
tire dentition for the elimination of
pain from a single tooth," said
Clement, "is the dreadful choice a
poor person on Medicaid 21 or older
has to make everyday."
But Bruce Huckleby, director of
Michigan's Medicaid program, called
Dr. Clements remarks "outlandish."
He said Medicaid does not encourage
dentists to perform anything beyond
what is necessary.
"We don't tell dentists to extract
all the teeth (of a patient) just so
(patients) can receive dentures," he
said.
Yet Dean admitted that Medi-
caid has problems at the local and
national levels. "There are many
problems with Medicaid. We're fo-
cusing on the problems and trying to
correct as many of them as possi-
ble."
But Dean was quick to add that
the financial limitations of the pro-
gram have created some of the prob-
lems. "For some treatment, we don't
Wednesday, March 14
Pendleton Room,
Michigan Union
6:00-7:30 p.m.
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The employer perspective
Panel presentation by professionals in:
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-Business & Industry
-Human Services
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Employers offer insights on:
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have money - orthodontics, for ex-
ample. It's all a matter of funding.
Medicaid can cover only certain
treatment."
Huckleby added, "(Michigan
Medicaid) tries to provide the best
package we can with the funds that
we have."
According to Clement and
Williams, there are too many limita-
tions in the Medicaid policies. They
claim that dentists, as well as Medi-
caid recipients, are affected.
Clement cited evidence of a
Florida dentist who was fined
$250,000 for failing to extract all
the teeth of a patient who needed
only two pulled.
"What the doctor should have
done," said Dr. Clement, "was pull
all the teeth (of the patient) - be-
cause that's policy."
Each state is supposed to de-
sign and administer its own Medicaid
program. The program must con-
form with federal legal guidelines.
But federal guidelines are fraudu-
lently interpreted, Clement says. As
outlined in the DSA's report, "The
Toothgate Scandal," in most states,
"Boards of Dentistry (have) very lit-
tle input in the final policies" of the
Medicaid programs.
In addition to what Clement calls
the "egregious policies" of Medicaid
that keep dentists from performing
alternative, sensible treatment,
Williams pointed to the
"bureaucratic barriers" that dentists
in the Medicaid program are forced to
deal with and which often prevert
poor people from receiving care.
According to Williams, Medicaid
often fails to honor its payments to
dentists. When dentists call to find
out about the payment, Medicaid
will often tell them that they have
no records of the treatment. When a
dentist then sends a second bill -
called "double billing," which is il-
legal under Medicaid policy - the
dentist is accused and often convicted
of fraud and/or grand theft.
According to the DSA, dentists
across the country are becoming
more aware of the "egregious" poli-
cies of Medicaid. Dentists not in the
program know of its bad reputation
and decide not to participate. Those
in the program "just decide to drop
it," said Dr. Williams. Medicaid re-
cipients as a result cannot find care.
DSA is presently awaiting a
report from several congressmen and
the Office of Technology Assess-
ment on the state of Medicaid Dental
programs in the nation.
INQUIRY
Continued from Page 1
and all hoped this ruling will finally
close the book on the November
elections.
Laura Miller, CSJ Chief Justice,
did not agree with the Counsel's in-
terpretation of her court's ruling, but
was pleased their decision not to in-
terfere with CSJ's earlier decision.
"The administration needs to have
faith in the student government and
its courts," Miller said. "The CSJ
acted in the appropriate manner, ac-
cording to our guidelines. There was
absolutely no political motivation in
our decision."
"The Regental Bylaws grant the
administration the power to interfere
whenever they choose," said LSA
junior and MSA rep. Jason
Krumholz, "and I'm really glad they
didn't exploit that power and use it
to their advantage in this situation,
even though they disagreed with us."
MSA President Aaron Williams,
who originally asked Duderstadt to
conduct the investigation, said the
Counsel's decision sends an impor-
tant message to the student assem-
bly.
"General Counsel did have some
problems with the CSJ's actions,
but I think they realized that all gov-
ernmental systems have some kinks
in them," the engineering senior
said.
However, Conservative Coalition
Director Jeff Johnson was upset the
administration did not step in, and
said his party now has no way to
appeal their case. He said if the
coalition moves for a recall of the
new LSA representatives, the mo-
tion will simply be voted down by
MSA.
Williams guaranteed that the
events of the last two months will
not be repeated. Williams said he and
several other MSA officers have
made changes in the MSA compiled
code to prevent similar problems in
the future.
BAKER
Continued from Page 1
a moral obligation to (write the let-
ter)."
Baker said he did not intend for
people to think the letter was actu-
ally from Pursell. Baker said he used
Pursell's letterhead and signature be-
cause he believed the ruse would at-
tract more attention from the public.
Baker said his actions were legal,
including the forgery of Pursell's
signature. Forgery is only illegal
when it binds someone by a contract
or when signing a check, said Baker.
"I would love to do it to all of
them (politicians who support U.S.
support in El Salvador) but I don't
have the resources to do that," Baker
said.
Though Baker lost the congres-
sional election to Pursell in 1986,
he said his the forgery was not an act
of revenge, and that he had been
working against Pursell's political
stance for years before the election.
Baker said he heard of an FBI in-
vestigation of the letter. "The FBI
should not be investigating political
mailings," Baker said. "If this is the
case, the FBI is spying on political
activity."
BILLS
Continued from Page 1
about where they use it.
Birkett said his organization will
fight the new legislation through a
letter writing campaign, but added
that he hopes the bill will die in the
Senate Local Committee before such
an effort is necessary.
The legislation ran into compli-
cations as it was presented to the
Senate Local Committee yesterday
when it was discovered that the bills
would not cover all cities. A sixth
bill is now being written to insure
that all cities would be covered by
the legislation.
Ann Arbor and East Lansing are
supposedly the main targets of the
bills, but would be excluded from
the legislation as it now stands
without the addition of the sixth bill
because of their city size.
Michigan Daily
ARS9
763-0379
IN BIEF
Compiled from Associated Press and staff reports
Germans plan slow changes
EAST BERLIN - East Germany's foreign minister yesterday warned
against rapid reunification, and his West German counterpart assured the
victorious World War II Allies that nothing will be done behind their
backs.
In East Berlin, the government sought to assure worried citizens that
there will be no immediate increases in state-subsidized food prices and
announced plans for large tax cuts to bolster private initiative.
Foreign Minister Oskar Fischer said during a Parliament debate that
unification of Germany must be coupled with similar moves toward
greater integration with Europe.
"German unity must proceed at such a rhythm that it corresponds to
the interests of the victorious powers and German neighbors," he said
adding that unification must not rattle European stability or the world's
balance of power."
West German Foreign Minister Hans Genscher said Germans must
provide definite, binding recognition of European borders before German
reunification is accepted by all sides.
Mom lied about taking pill;
Dad must pay child support
LANSING - A father cannot avoid paying child support by claiming
the woman told him she was using birth control pills, the Michigan
Court of Appeals says.
The court, in a ruling released yesterday, said it agrees with previous
rulings that Michigan's paternity act is designed to provide support for a
child born out of wedlock.
"The act does not require that we consider the "fault" of one of the par-
ents in causing a child's conception," said the ruling.
The ruling upheld in Oakland County Circuit Court decision ordering a
man to pay $340 a week child support of their child. The man claimed her
false statement about the use of birth control should have been used to re-
duce his child support obligation.
The father claimed her failure to use birth control also denied him his
constitutional right to decide whether to father a child.
Sandinistas celebrate early
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - Thousands of people gathered on
flag-bedecked streets yesterday for a campaign-closing rally in support of
President Daniel Ortega and the Sandinista party's effort to keep its power
for six more years.
"Let's celebrate victory now!" read the front-page headline in Barricada,
the official Sandinista National Liberation Front newspaper, with Sun-
day's Election four days away.
The headline was sandwiched between color photos of Ortega and his
running mate, Vice President Sergio Ramirez.
Ortega's main challenger is Violeta Barrios de Chamorro of the United
National Opposition, a coalition of 14 parties and one native Indian orga-
nization.
"We are here to support the revolution and defeat Violeta and her Con-
tra friends," said Tomas Alvarado, one of about 250 disabled veterans of
the war against the U.S.-supported Contra guerilla movement.
Retail prices rise in January
WASHINGTON (AP) - Retail prices made their steepest jump in 7.5
years last month as consumers suffered from the leftover effects of De-
cember's high food and fuel costs, the government said yesterday.
Analysts said that last month's 1.1 percent surge overstates the true
pace of inflation and that price increases should moderate in the following
months. There was concern, however, about higher prices posted for items
outside the food and fuel categories.
The Labor Department said the increase in its seasonally adjusted Con-
sumer Price Index was. the largest since a 1.1 percent gain in June 1982.
The department said that 60 percent of the January increase came in food
and energy prices.
The frigid weather a month earlier - it was the fourth coldest Decem-
ber since records were first kept 96 years ago - drove down fuel stocks
and damaged fresh fruits and vegetables, driving prices up.
Analysts said food and energy prices should ease by March.
EXTRAS
10
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Vendors relish hot dog idea:
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) - The search for fake grill marks on hot
dogs has spawned a promising by-product that advertisers may relish:
frank ads.
A peek between the buns could reveal "Hebrew National," "Go'
Dodgers" or some other promotional message tattooed on the frankfurter,
if Viskase Corp.'s idea takes hold.
Viskase, one of the world's biggest producers of hot dog holders, has
developed the E-Z Mark Nojax cellulose casing. The company says it al-
lows a hot dog maker to transfer a message printed in a "USDA-approved:
food-grade ingredient" from the casing to the meat.
Viskase spokesperson Doug Morris says the company steamed up the
idea of making the hot dog an edible billboard while trying to figure out;
how to put fake grill marks on franks to make them look barbecued.
Morris predicted that the printed dogs could begin turning up at special
events and promotions within two months.
The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter
terms by students at the University of Michigan. Subscription rates: for fall and winter (2 semesters)
$28.00 in-town and $39 out-of-town, for fall only $18.00 in-town and $22.00 out-of-town.
The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and the Student News Service.
ADDRESS: The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.
PHONE NUMBERS: News (313)764-0552, Opinion 747-2814, Arts 763-0379, Sports 747-3336, Cir-
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EDITORIAL STAFF:
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Mnging Editor KristneLaLonde Associate Sports Editors Save Cdn Andy Golesman
News Editors Karen Akedol, Marion Davis, David Hyman, Eric Lemont,
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Issues Editor Laura Sankey Books Carolyn Paa
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Kevin Woodson Music Forrest Green Il
Photo Editors Jose Juarez, David Lubliner Theater Jay Pekala
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Weekend: PHI Cohen, Rob Earle, Donna ladipado, Alex Gordon, IanaTrachtnan, Fred Zinn.
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Sports: Eric Berkman, Michael Bess, Theodore Cox, Doug Donaldson, Jeni Durst, Richard Eisen, Jared Entin, Scott Erskdne, Steve
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Photo: Sarah Baker, Jerifer Dunetz, Amy Feliman, Julie HdIman, Jonathan Uss, Josh Moore, Samantha Sanders, Kenneli Smi er,
Steven Szuch.
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