Medicaid update: Wis. approves big cuts; Wash. state lawsuit on ER visits; Kansas electronic medical records initiative

Medicaid news from Wisconsin, a Washington state courtroom and Kansas.

Associated Press/(St. Paul) Pioneer Press: Wisconsin's Republican-Controlled Budget Panel OKs $225M In Medicaid Cuts
The Wisconsin Legislature's Republican-controlled state budget committee voted Thursday to approve about $225 million in Medicaid cuts expected to result in about 65,000 poor adults and children leaving health insurance programs, either because they would no longer be eligible or they could no longer afford coverage. ... The Department of Health Services plan would shift more than 200,000 families enrolled in BadgerCare Plus into cheaper programs with reduced benefits (Bauer, 11/10).

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Lawmakers OK Changes That Could Drop 65,000 From Medicaid
[The proposal] must still win federal approval from President Barack Obama's administration by the end of the year - a significant hurdle. ... To help control rapidly increasing costs in the programs, Walker's administration wants to decrease benefits for a quarter of a million recipients, increase premiums for tens of thousands of others by up to tenfold, and drop coverage for adults and children for at least a year if a family misses a payment (Stein, 11/10).

The Associated Press/The Seattle Times: State Ending Limits On Medicaid ER Visits 
A court ruling Thursday is forcing Washington to temporarily repeal rules that seek to limit Medicaid coverage of emergency-room visits for nonemergency care. A Thurston County judge said the state did not follow proper procedures when it established a three-visit annual limit. Officials with the state's Health Care Authority said they are going to rework the proposal ... The American College of Emergency Physicians has sued the state, arguing that the rules put patients at risk (11/10).

Kansas Health Institute News: KS Hospitals Soon May Be Able To Apply For Medicaid HIT Incentives
The state's Medicaid health information technology plan has been approved by the federal government, which means Kansas hospitals that have implemented electronic health records may be able to apply for Medicaid-based incentives this year (Cauthon, 11/10).