Medicaid News and Research

RSS

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.

First Edition: January 28, 2014

Today's headlines include the findings of a new poll, which sets the scene for tonight's State of the Union Address by President Barack Obama.

28 Jan 2014

State highlights: N.Y. revises its request for Medicaid adjustment; transplant waiting periods for new coverage in Wash.

A selection of health policy stories from New York, Washington state, California, Virginia, Idaho, Connecticut and Georgia.

28 Jan 2014

Viewpoints: Health overhaul helps ease inequality issues; nuns triumph over health law; deinstitutionalization's mental health legacy

Intense as it is, the current debate over rising income inequality is hardly new. ... The good news is that there's more good news than one might expect. ... In addition to avoiding making things worse, the country has adopted, at least in part, several of the policy improvements we thought made sense eight years ago. Most prominent among these was President Obama's health-care reform, which, for all its problems, promises to ease the health-care cost squeeze on middle- and lower-income Americans (1/25).

28 Jan 2014

Getting Obamacare to harder-to-reach groups

Reaching underserved populations who are newly qualified for coverage remains a major concern and challenge to advocacy groups like Families USA. For insurers and government officials, the target is healthy people who will help balance new risk pools.

28 Jan 2014

When cut from Medicare advantage plans, doctors face dilemma about patients

In the meantime, Medicare is trying to crack down on habitual overcharging by some doctors.

28 Jan 2014

State Lawmakers Consider Legislative Fixes For Health Insurance Exchange Problems

Lawmakers in Maryland and Oregon consider legislation that would help residents sign up for health insurance coverage -- in some cases after deadlines to sign up have passed.

28 Jan 2014

Some consumers finding surprises as they explore health law implementation

Many plans offered on the health marketplaces will take an unexpected chunk out of consumers' wallets, Politico reports. Meanwhile, The Associated Press examines a dilemma for some parents who find that their children qualify for Medicaid and can't go on the same plan as the parents.

28 Jan 2014

The view from two counties with soaring uninsurance rates

The Texas Tribune looks at how Houston officials are using techniques honed in hurricanes and other public emergencies to try to enroll the uninsured. Kaiser Health News looks at the health law's impact on the county in Florida that has the state's highest uninsured rates.

28 Jan 2014

States use waivers to expand Medicaid their way

Also in the news is the Missouri Chamber of Commerce's hiring of retired Republican Sen. Kit Bond to help the state's Democratic governor lobby GOP state lawmakers to expand Medicaid.

27 Jan 2014

First Edition: January 27, 2014

Today's headlines include a report about a new Associated Press poll that found some negative views of the health law may be easing.

27 Jan 2014

Active Biotech, Teva remain committed to NERVENTRA clinical development program for multiple sclerosis

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Active Biotech (NASDAQ OMX NORDIC: ACTI) announced today that both companies remain committed to the NERVENTRA® (laquinimod) clinical development program for multiple sclerosis (MS) following the announcement of a negative opinion for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

27 Jan 2014

Fluoridation fails as America's cavity crisis escalates

Today is the 69th birthday of water fluoridation – the top public health blunder of all time, reports the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. (NYSCOF)

25 Jan 2014

Viewpoints: Consumers awakening to health law's 'perverse incentives;' Medicaid expansion could help Dems in mid-term elections; new 'devious tactic' in smoking

With fewer glitches to deter them, millions of Americans are now logging on to the ObamaCare health-insurance-exchange websites. When they get there, many are discovering some unpleasant surprises:

25 Jan 2014

GAO: Most Medicare advantage plans meet medical expense standard

The federal health law requires the plans to pay out at least 85 percent of their premium dollars on medical expenses, or refund the excess revenue to the government.

25 Jan 2014

Research roundup: Patient safety measure results 'disappointing'

Patient safety poses serious challenges to the health care system in the United States. Since 2001, nationwide efforts have focused on reducing in-hospital adverse events.

25 Jan 2014

Health law enrollment hits approximately 3 million in January

Though this number is shy of earlier projections, it is getting closer to hitting monthly expectations. The administration, though, did not provided data about payment.

25 Jan 2014

Aetna enters into five-year reinsurance arrangement with Vitality Re V

Aetna today announced that it has entered into a five-year reinsurance arrangement with Vitality Re V Limited as part of its long-term capital management strategy.

25 Jan 2014

State highlights: Hearing Friday on battle over Texas woman on life support

The case of the Texas woman, 22-weeks pregnant and being kept on life-support machines at a Forth Worth hospital against her husband's wishes, goes before a judge in North Texas on Friday.

25 Jan 2014

Mayors also have a stake in the Medicaid expansion's 'promise and pitfalls'

This health law topic is high on the agenda of this week's U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Washington. Meanwhile, Utah's Gov. Gary Herbert said he will pursue some form of the expansion. Also in the news, related developments in Montana and Missouri.

24 Jan 2014

Medicaid 'death debt' causes some to step away from coverage

A little-known aspect of Medicaid allows states, in certain cases, to recoup medical costs by claiming deceased people's homes, which is causing some people to avoid coverage, even those who are newly eligible under the health law's expanded eligibility.

24 Jan 2014