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Medicaid is the United States health program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the states and federal government, and is managed by the states.

USA witnesses dramatic slowdown in health spending growth over last decade

Growth in health expenditure in the USA slowed dramatically between 2000 and 2011, bringing the growth rate of the country’s health budget in line with other high-spending countries, according to new research published in The Lancet as part of a new Series, The health of Americans.

2 Jul 2014

Reform roundup: Georgia exchange attracts more insurers; Kansas embraces one part of health law

UnitedHealthcare, Coventry, Cigna and Time Insurance Company have each submitted plans with the state to offer health insurance in the federally run exchange in Georgia next year. They join the five holdovers from this year's exchange that are also submitting rates for review: Alliant Health Plans, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, and Peach State Health Plans. The state's deadline for applications for the Georgia exchange was midnight Monday (Miller, 6/30).

2 Jul 2014

State roundup: Christie vows overhaul of pension, health benefits; Ill., Fla. move more into Medicaid managed care

Gov. Chris Christie said he would propose an overhaul to the state's pension and health benefits system later this summer, revisiting an issue that burnished his national political image in 2011 but challenged him this spring when he scaled back promised funding. As the governor signed a $32.5 billion budget on Monday, he vetoed tax increases designed to offset pension costs and called changing the pension and benefits system his main economic priority for 2014 (Dawsey and Haddon, 6/30).

2 Jul 2014

Viewpoints: Hobby Lobby decision celebrated and panned; gender and religious politics explored

In ruling 5 to 4 that "closely held" companies can refuse on religious grounds to include contraceptives in their employees' health plans, the Supreme Court has needlessly interfered with an important provision of the Affordable Care Act. And it has done more than that (7/1).

1 Jul 2014

Justices rule home health care aides can't be forced to pay union dues

The high court's ruling will make it more difficult for unions in some states to continue organizing the aides, a rapidly growing segment of the workforce.

1 Jul 2014

Other religious challenges to mandate still await court decisions

Those cases generally involve nonprofit and religious organizations. Meanwhile, some employers who say their religious beliefs prevented them from complying with the contraceptive mandate say they plan to halt coverage of some methods following the Supreme Court decision, reports The Wall Street Journal, Meanwhile, attention moves to the administration as it attempts to draft new rules.

1 Jul 2014

Viewpoints: Nothing in health care is free; Obamacare opponents lack facts; 'Nurse Jackie' and the ER

The Department of Health and Human Services released a report Friday declaring that 76 million Americans with private insurance became eligible for more preventive services with no out-of-pocket fees as a result of the 2010 healthcare law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare). Because Democrats are counting on female voters to help them at the polls in November, the report highlighted how women had been helped by that aspect of Obamacare.

1 Jul 2014

State highlights: Caring for Texans injured on-the-job; heroin deaths in Md.; pertussis in Calif.

In formerly depressed South Texas, gas flares from the fracking boom can be seen from outer space. While Texas has a Division of Workers' Compensation, it is the only state that doesn't require any private employer to carry workers' compensation insurance or a private equivalent, so more than 500,000 people have no occupational benefits when they get injured at work. That means they often rely on charities or taxpayers to pay for their care (Root, 6/29)

1 Jul 2014

First Edition: Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including numerous reports about the Supreme Court's decision on the health law's contraception mandate and its effect for coverage and on national politics.

1 Jul 2014

NCCN Policy Summit to address impact of health care reform on academic oncology practice

On July 10, 2014, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) will host the NCCN Policy Summit: The Impact of Health Care Reform on Academic Oncology Practice, at The Westin Arlington Gateway in Arlington, Virginia, as part of the NCCN Oncology Policy Program.

1 Jul 2014

Fallout from Medicaid expansion fights

In Virginia, The Washington Post traces the behind-the-scenes deal-making to create a job for the Democrat state lawmaker whose resignation gave Republicans control of the chamber and the ability to block Gov. Terry McAuliffe's plan to expand Medicaid. Meanwhile, a Missouri hospital lays off 60 employees, blaming the state's failure to expand Medicaid.

1 Jul 2014

GNS automated data analytics can predict future risk of metabolic syndrome in patients

Research published today in The American Journal of Managed Care demonstrates that analysis of patient records using state-of-the-art data analytics can predict future risk of metabolic syndrome.

28 Jun 2014

State highlights: N.C. lawmakers face off over Medicaid spending; heart surgery ratings in Ore.

North Carolina senators were not persuaded Thursday to accept Medicaid spending numbers for the coming year from Gov. Pat McCrory's administration after hearing a two-hour presentation led by State Budget Director Art Pope. Pope was summoned by the Senate Appropriations Committee to explain why McCrory's spending projection earmarks are much less than the Senate's to pay for unpaid claims from the year ending June 30 and additional enrollment and services for next year.

28 Jun 2014

Advocacy group publicizes child deaths from accidental shootings

Almost two children a week were killed in unintentional shootings during the 12 months that followed the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, according to a report by the gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety.

28 Jun 2014

Weak hospice oversight makes safety problems hard to identify

The typical hospice undergoes a full government inspection about once every six years, according to The Washington Post, making it one of the least scrutinized areas of U.S. health care.

28 Jun 2014

Oregon hospital sees big drop in uninsured; $53M budget proposed for Washington exchange

The number of uninsured patients treated at Oregon Health & Science University's hospital slowed to a trickle this year, a top official said Thursday. Media outlets explore other state insurance developments related to the federal health law.

28 Jun 2014

HHS says marketplace customers can automatically renew their plans

The announcement says people getting subsidies will be allowed to renew for 2015 without filing an application or going back on healthcare.gov. But consumer advocates caution that may not be the best option for those customers.

27 Jun 2014

Research roundup: Role of primary care in reducing readmissions; air transport for wounded soldiers; hospital prices

Follow-up with a primary care provider (PCP) in addition to the surgical team is routinely recommended to patients discharged after major surgery despite no clear evidence that it improves outcomes.

27 Jun 2014

Viewpoints: ObamaCare and economic growth; involving judiciary in political disputes

Financial markets shrugged off Wednesday's punch-in-the-stomach report that first quarter GDP shrank by 2.9% on an annual basis, far more than earlier estimates and the worst quarterly decline in five years. Optimists blame the weather and point to faster growth in the current quarter, which is reasonable but still shouldn't overlook ObamaCare's role in nearly sending the economy back into recession.

27 Jun 2014

Va. GOP lawmakers detail legal strategy on any efforts by governor to expand Medicaid

Republicans in the state House announce that they've retained former U.S. solicitor general Paul Clement, who produced a report saying the governor does not have the authority in Virginia to expand Medicaid without legislative approval.

27 Jun 2014

Medicaid News and Research

USA witnesses dramatic slowdown in health spending growth over last decade

Reform roundup: Georgia exchange attracts more insurers; Kansas embraces one part of health law

State roundup: Christie vows overhaul of pension, health benefits; Ill., Fla. move more into Medicaid managed care

Viewpoints: Hobby Lobby decision celebrated and panned; gender and religious politics explored

Justices rule home health care aides can't be forced to pay union dues

Other religious challenges to mandate still await court decisions

Viewpoints: Nothing in health care is free; Obamacare opponents lack facts; 'Nurse Jackie' and the ER

State highlights: Caring for Texans injured on-the-job; heroin deaths in Md.; pertussis in Calif.

First Edition: Tuesday, July 1, 2014

NCCN Policy Summit to address impact of health care reform on academic oncology practice

Fallout from Medicaid expansion fights

GNS automated data analytics can predict future risk of metabolic syndrome in patients

State highlights: N.C. lawmakers face off over Medicaid spending; heart surgery ratings in Ore.

Advocacy group publicizes child deaths from accidental shootings

Weak hospice oversight makes safety problems hard to identify

Oregon hospital sees big drop in uninsured; $53M budget proposed for Washington exchange

HHS says marketplace customers can automatically renew their plans

Research roundup: Role of primary care in reducing readmissions; air transport for wounded soldiers; hospital prices

Viewpoints: ObamaCare and economic growth; involving judiciary in political disputes

Va. GOP lawmakers detail legal strategy on any efforts by governor to expand Medicaid

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