Anthem Drops Policy

Anthem announced they are pulling back on a policy that was supposed to take effect in March, which would have reduced payments for a specific billing code that reimburses physicians for performing multiple procedures in one visit. The MO State Medical Association, MO Dermatological Society and several other provider groups have pushed back hard over the last several months, as Sen. Bob Onder and Rep. Mike Henderson introduced the first legislation in the country on this issue. This signals a big win for MSMA lobbyists Jeff Howell, Heidi Geisbuhler Sutherland and the rest of the provider community.

Originally in February 26 MOScout.

Help Wanted

Missouri Republican Party seeks Regional Field Director’s (RFD’s).  “RFD’s will work with Field Organizers in communities across the region, activating and engaging with grassroots supporters for Republican electoral success in 2018… Managing Field staff within their region; Achieving regional goals by tailoring statewide plans to match regional needs; Managing Victory Centers; Direct oversight of volunteer growth and development - Primary interface between down-ticket candidates and the national field program…  Contact: RLI@mogop.org”

Originally in February 27 MOScout.

MOScout Weekly Poll - Greitens Opinion March 3

Missouri Survey of 800 Likely Mid Term Voters

Conducted February 28-March 1, 2018

By Pulse Opinion Research

From February 28 through March 1, 2018 Pulse Opinion Research conducted a survey of 800 likely midterm voters in Missouri.

The margin of sampling error for the full sample is +/- 3.5% percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. This means that an identical survey conducted under the same circumstances would generate a result within the margin of sampling error 19 times out of 20.

The survey was conducted using an established automated polling methodology. For 75% of the sample calls were placed to randomly-selected phone numbers through a process that insures appropriate geographical representation.  Twenty five percent (25%) of the sample was conducted via online surveys of those individuals who use a cell-phone as their primary telephone.  After the calls and on-line surveys were completed, the raw data is processed through a weighting program to insure that the sample reflects the overall population in terms of age, race, gender, political party, and other factors.  The processing step is required because different segments of the population answer the phone in different ways.  For example, women answer the phone more than men, older people are home more and answer more than younger people, and rural residents typically answer the phone more frequently than urban residents.

The population targets were based upon census bureau data, a series of screening questions to determine likely voters, and other factors. Pulse Opinion Research determines its partisan weighting targets through a dynamic weighting system that takes into account voting history, national trends, and recent polling.

1*Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Eric Greitens?

29% Favorable

53% Unfavorable

14% You have no opinion

4% Not sure

2*How much have you read, seen or heard recently about Governor Eric Greitens – a lot, just a little, or nothing at all?

76% A lot

19% Just a little

4% Nothing at all

1% Not sure

3* (Only those who answered “a lot” or “just a little” to question 2) Thinking about what you've seen, read or heard. Was the information you saw, read or heard generally positive, negative or neutral?

8% Positive

72% Negative

14% Neutral

5% Not sure

4* Do you think Governor Eric Greitens should resign from office?

46% Yes

37% No

17% Not sure

See the full crosstabs in an Excel spreadsheet here:  MOScout Crosstabs - March 3 Poll

Moon Takes Aim at ELMS

CCJ Digital reports that “legislators in at least four states have introduced proposals in recent weeks to stymie enforcement of the electronic logging device mandate, either by suspending funds for enforcement within their state’s borders or by asking the federal government to reconsider the mandate, enforcement for which began in December. The bills mostly cite concerns of small business truckers as the reasons to repeal the mandate or suspend its enforcement, as well as the potential for the mandate to drive up prices of goods for consumers. Legislators in South Dakota, Missouri, Tennessee and Idaho have introduced resolutions taking aim at the mandate…”

In Missouri, Rep. Mike Moon has filed HB 2437 which “prohibits the state and its agencies or political subdivisions or any employees of these entities from enforcing, or keeping records to show compliance with, the federal electronic logging device mandates under 32301(b) of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act of 2012.  Individuals and businesses are free to cooperate with federal requests involving electronic logging devices.”

It hasn’t been referred to committee yet.

Originally in February 26 MOScout.

Mantovani on TV

Last week Mark Mantovani’s campaign released its first TV ad.   “Hometown,” an introductory 60-second TV ad highlighting Mantovani’s roots growing up in Affton, raising his family here in St. Louis County and his experience helping grow a tech business – creating hundreds of jobs in the region.

See it here.  The tagline: Imagine what’s possible.

See Mantovani’s website here.

Originally in February 26 MOScout.

Bits

Reuters reports on the nascent attempts to regulate disclosure of political ad buys on the internet.  Read here about what the City of Seattle requires from Facebook. Facebook must disclose details about spending in last year’s Seattle city elections or face penalties, Wayne Barnett, executive director of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, said in a statement… Legislation is pending to extend federal rules governing political advertising on television and radio to also cover internet ads, and tech firms have announced plans to voluntarily disclose some data….

The Missouri Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint against Columbia Mayor Brian Treece and others concerning public use of funds.  See it here.

Originally in February 7 MOScout.