Medicaid news: Neb.'s prenatal care flap; Texas' 'ticking time bomb'

A selection of Medicaid news from Texas, Nebraska, Missouri and Arizona.

Reuters: Nebraska Governor Rejects Prenatal Care Funding For Illegal Immigrants
Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman vetoed a proposal to restore Medicaid-funded prenatal care for illegal immigrants on Friday, but the initiative could still survive if the state legislature rejects his move next week. Nebraska state senators voted 31-15 on Wednesday to restore the program, which was eliminated two years ago after providing prenatal care for decades (Bailey, 4/13). 

Houston Chronicle: Perry To Say Medicaid 'Ticking Time Bomb,' Will Call For Making Permanent Small Business Tax Break
Gov. Rick Perry, holding firm to his no-new-taxes stand as lawmakers look toward another challenging state budget, on Monday will call for making permanent a break for small businesses. ... Perry will say that "the cost of Medicaid is a ticking time bomb and is primed to do massive damage to our budget in the short and long terms." He will tout a push to allow Medicaid to be distributed to states in block grants to give them flexibility (Fikac, 4/15).

Politico Pro: Arizona CHIP Expansion: Small Dent, Big Waiting List
The expansion of Arizona's CHIP coverage, approved by HHS last week, could extend health insurance to as many as 22,000 children in the state -- but it's a fraction of the number of children and adults on the waiting list because of the state's substantial Medicaid cuts. The state's waiting list for the CHIP program has grown to more than 100,000 kids since enrollment was frozen at the beginning of 2010. And there's an even longer list of adults who haven't been able to get coverage (Norman, 4/13).

The Associated Press/Modern Healthcare: Mo. Committee Asked To Review Medicaid Contracts
Missouri lawmakers plan to investigate Medicaid contracts after a company's recent lawsuit challenging the awarding of a managed-care contract. ... Molina Healthcare sued the state claiming it violated competitive bidding laws in awarding a contract earlier this year to Centene Corp. (4/13).