Universal Access

Sardegna should resign immediatelyPerhaps I missed something or misunderstood the news stories about Blues President Carl J. Sardegna, who recently appeared before a congressional investigation that found widespread mismanagement.A recent article stated that Mr. Sardegna ''was considering resigning as well but decided to remain and stick it out.'' The best thing this man could do for the benefit of our Blue Cross/Blue Shield is to resign and do so immediately.There are plenty of competent people of executive caliber available in the work force today.

It should surprise no one that Medicaid is the most out-of-control item in the embattled Maryland state budget. Enrollment in the welfare program jumped from 370,000 to 423,000 in just one year -- another grim result of economic hard times. State Health Secretary Nelson Sabatini does not exaggerate when he warns that "Medicaid, if it keeps going in the direction it is going, will drive states into bankruptcy."It is virtually certain that as health care costs rise, so will demands on Medicaid.

"VOICE OVER Internet Protocol" hardly rolls off the tongue, but it's nonetheless the next frontier for tele- phones. About 600,000 U.S. residences already are buying phone service from companies that send their calls over the Internet, somewhat like e-mail. It's a cheaper, more flexible service than traditional dial-tone phone calls, and much of the American landline system may end up moving to VoIP. That shift was given impetus recently when the Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to exempt the fledging industry from state-by-state regulation, to which local phone services are subject.

Kudos to The Sun for supporting the Race to the Tots legislation in Annapolis and universal, high-quality pre-kindergarten ("Challenging young minds," Feb. 25). Race to the Tots, sponsored by Sen. Bill Ferguson and Del. Sandy Rosenberg, would provide funding for expanded access to preschool, professional development for child care providers, and innovative partnership among services for young children and their families. Hearings on the legislation will be held on Wednesday, March 6, and we urge readers to contact their representatives in Annapolis, calling on them to support this bill.

Surgeon General M. Joycelyn Elders yesterday reminded graduates of the University of Maryland at Baltimore that they should try to make life better for those who are less fortunate."

How badly is the regulatory battlefield tilted against Verizon and other phone companies in their fight against the cable concerns? So badly that Verizon archenemy Comcast plans to collect and remit taxes on its new Maryland telephone services even though, legally, it probably doesn't have to. How's that for shaming regulators into seeing that technology has left their rules in the dust? Similarities notwithstanding, Comcast's "digital voice" Internet phone calls are not taxable the way that Verizon's regular calls are. Courts and legislators have created a broad and unfair regulatory gulf between Internet and cable-modem phone products, on one hand, and traditional phone service, on the other.

ANNAPOLIS -- Employers who offer health insurance would have to buy policies that cover child wellness services, such as immunizations, screenings and physicals, under a bill that passed the House of Delegates yesterday.The 97-31 vote on House Bill 485 came as a flurry of health care-related bills passed the House yesterday. The unifying theme behind the bills -- which included penalties on doctors who bill for services they don't provide, and a requirement for all providers to use a single statewide billing form -- was the attempt to lower health-care costs.

ANNAPOLIS -- Employers who offer health insurance would have to buy policies that cover child wellness services, such as immunizations, screenings and physicals, under a bill that passed the House of Delegates yesterday.The 97-31 vote on House Bill 485 came as a flurry of health care-related bills passed the House yesterday. The unifying theme behind the bills -- which included penalties on doctors who bill for services they don't provide, and a requirement for all providers to use a single statewide billing form -- was the attempt to lower health-care costs.

A member of one of America's wealthiest families has decried the lack of effort by the White House to promote universal access to health care for all Americans."

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration has received another recommendation to broaden the nation's health-care system to protect the uninsured poor.Various health policy experts estimated that the cost to the federal government would be at least $4 billion a year. Medicaid, a state-federal program, already finances health care for 27 million poor Americans.A report drafted for an advisory panel appointed by the administration is recommending that Medicaid be expanded to cover doctors' services and hospital care for an estimated 10 million people below the poverty level who have no insurance.