Medicaid officials push Florida to improve patient care, reach agreement 'in principle' with Texas

Texas and Florida have requested waivers from the federal government to restructure their Medicaid programs.

News Service of Florida/WCTV: Feds Laying Out What They Want in Medicaid
As Florida seeks to continue a controversial Medicaid pilot program, federal officials want changes to improve patient care and increase requirements on HMOs. The changes could include the state spending millions of dollars to beef up primary-care programs, while 20 hospitals would have to come up with projects to bolster the health of low-income people. At the same time, federal officials are seeking to ensure that HMOs in the pilot program spend at least 85 percent of the money they receive on patient care (Saunders, 9/14). 

Kaiser Health News: Capsules: Texas And Feds Agree 'In Principle' On Medicaid Overhaul
Texas officials received a long awaited thumbs-up from the federal government on a proposed overhaul of the Texas Medicaid program this week, according to a letter obtained by Kaiser Health News (Weaver, 9/15).