Medicaid News and Research

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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.

MD Anderson study shows that needle biopsy underused in breast cancer patients

Needle biopsy, the standard of care radiological procedure for diagnosing breast cancer, is underused with too many patients undergoing the more invasive, excisional biopsy to detect their disease, according to research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

10 Jun 2014

State highlights: Improving chronic care in Las Vegas; standoff over Medicaid in N.C.

Now, Las Vegas is emerging as a test of how much a community can improve chronically poor health by expanding insurance coverage and using models of medical care pioneered in healthier places. "We are a prime example of what people see as problematic about the American healthcare system," said Larry Matheis, the former longtime head of the Nevada State Medical Assn. "That makes a lot of the ideas in health reform very attractive. … The challenge is going to be figuring out how to make it all work" (Levey, 6/7).

10 Jun 2014

Nearly 2 million consumers find themselves in health care limbo as they wait for their Medicaid applications to be processed

Kaiser Health News reports that most of these are people who sought coverage through the health law's Medicaid expansion. Meanwhile, the New York Times takes a look at how a state line can make all the difference in who gets Medicaid.

10 Jun 2014

Politics continue to swirl around state Medicaid expansion debates

A group of Democratic senators have written a letter to Republican governors in states such as South Dakota, Wyoming, Wisconsin and Nebraska urging that they set politics aside and pursue the health law's expansion of the state-federal low-income insurance program. Meanwhile, the issue is also front and center in primary elections.

9 Jun 2014

Centene enters into transaction with Community Health Solutions of America

Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) ("Centene") announced today that it has entered into a transaction whereby Community Health Solutions of America, Inc. ("CHS") will assign its contract with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals ("DHH") under the Bayou Health Shared Savings Program to Centene's wholly owned subsidiary, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, Inc. ("LHCC").

9 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 9, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about efforts on the state level and within the health care system to address health care costs and advance other system reforms.

9 Jun 2014

Pa. House committee advances bill to expand Medicaid eligibility

States continue to debate issues related to the health law's Medicaid expansion provision. A state House committee advanced a bill Wednesday to immediately expand Medicaid eligibility to more than a half-million uninsured Pennsylvanians.

9 Jun 2014

Viewpoints: Tea party missing the lesson; health care not an ordinary market; Va.'s Medicaid battle

But the Tea Party does have something to show for its five years of annoyance: Ted Cruz, senator from Texas. Cruz is probably best known for reading "Green Eggs and Ham" on the floor of the Senate during a 21-hour talkathon designed to ensure his place as the most hated man in that august chamber.

9 Jun 2014

Research roundup: Funding for safety-net hospitals; insurance competition

Safety-net hospitals rely on disproportionate-share hospital (DSH) payments to help cover uncompensated care costs and underpayments by Medicaid

9 Jun 2014

Healthcare.gov to get makeover

The Wall Street Journal reports that the federal health insurance website is slated for an overhaul that will likely result in the scrapping of major parts of it that caused problems during last fall's launch. Its tight timeline is among the issues raising new concern.

6 Jun 2014

State highlights: NYC soda fight back in court; doc training slots in N.Y.; Texas inmate dialysis costs

New York City's battle over sugary drinks is entering its endgame. But much more than soda is at stake. A plan to limit the sale of large, high-calorie beverages, championed by former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg as a novel way to fight obesity, went before the State Court of Appeals here on Wednesday, the city's final recourse after a lower court judge struck down the proposal last year (Grynbaum, 6/4).

6 Jun 2014

Longer looks: When an ER doctor becomes an ER patient; visualizing end-of-life treatments; Google Glass inside operating rooms

If you are shot or stabbed in or around Oakland, you are likely to be sent [to Highland Hospital). Oakland has the highest violent crime rate in the nation, so I have indeed seen my fair share of victims over my long career here.

6 Jun 2014

NCOA brings innovative online support program to help people manage type 2 diabetes

Under a unique collaboration, the National Council on Aging with support from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation and WellPoint are—for the first time—bringing a proven and affordable face-to-face and online support program to help people manage their Type 2 diabetes.

6 Jun 2014

UnitedHealthcare recognizes employers for improving employees' health through wellness programs

UnitedHealthcare has announced winners of its Well Deserved Award, an annual honor given to employers who have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving their employees' health and well-being through effective worksite wellness programs.

6 Jun 2014

Viewpoints: The case for doctors making house calls; the measles threat; the VA's value

At a time when burdensome restrictions enacted in Republican-led states are threatening women's access to abortion care, it is all the more vital that courts scrutinize phony claims that new laws actually protect women's health and safety (Dorothy J. Samuels, 6/4).

6 Jun 2014

HHS probes data discrepancies for 2 million enrollees

Administration officials said that in most cases, those discrepancies will not affect consumers' coverage or the level of subsidies they received. Individuals are being asked to submit additional documentation to ensure they're getting the correct tax credits.

6 Jun 2014

UnitedHealthcare and IRONKIDS join forces to motivate young people to lead healthy lifestyles

UnitedHealthcare is teaming up with IRONKIDS® for the UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS Kansas Fun Run to inspire and motivate young people to lead active, positive and healthy lifestyles.

6 Jun 2014

Medicaid rolls grow by 6 million since health law rollout

The total, which includes 1.1 million people who signed up in April alone, does not indicate how many people gained coverage through the law's expansion of Medicaid, a program pursued by 26 states. That's because individuals who were eligible for Medicaid before the law's passage, but not enrolled, also signed up.

6 Jun 2014

CBO to stop scoring some parts of the health law

The congressional budget analysts announce that they will continue to track the financial impact of the marketplaces and the Medicaid expansion program, but not some of the other smaller changes made under the law. Meanwhile, a new strategy for employers who provide health care is coming under scrutiny.

5 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 5, 2014

Today's headlines include the latest developments regarding congressional action on the veterans' health care scandal as well as reports about the latest Medicaid enrollment figures in the context of the health law.

5 Jun 2014

Medicaid News and Research

MD Anderson study shows that needle biopsy underused in breast cancer patients

State highlights: Improving chronic care in Las Vegas; standoff over Medicaid in N.C.

Nearly 2 million consumers find themselves in health care limbo as they wait for their Medicaid applications to be processed

Politics continue to swirl around state Medicaid expansion debates

Centene enters into transaction with Community Health Solutions of America

First Edition: June 9, 2014

Pa. House committee advances bill to expand Medicaid eligibility

Viewpoints: Tea party missing the lesson; health care not an ordinary market; Va.'s Medicaid battle

Research roundup: Funding for safety-net hospitals; insurance competition

Healthcare.gov to get makeover

State highlights: NYC soda fight back in court; doc training slots in N.Y.; Texas inmate dialysis costs

Longer looks: When an ER doctor becomes an ER patient; visualizing end-of-life treatments; Google Glass inside operating rooms

NCOA brings innovative online support program to help people manage type 2 diabetes

UnitedHealthcare recognizes employers for improving employees' health through wellness programs

Viewpoints: The case for doctors making house calls; the measles threat; the VA's value

HHS probes data discrepancies for 2 million enrollees

UnitedHealthcare and IRONKIDS join forces to motivate young people to lead healthy lifestyles

Medicaid rolls grow by 6 million since health law rollout

CBO to stop scoring some parts of the health law

First Edition: June 5, 2014

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