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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.

How Obamacare coverage is shaking out

Even with the health law's insurance options, consumers struggling with chronic diseases may still face such high out-of-pocket costs on some plans that they could have trouble staying out of debt, reports the Associated Press. Meanwhile, several major drugstore chains are offering to fill prescriptions for those who enrolled in new health plans but don't have ID numbers yet.

6 Jan 2014

First Edition: January 6, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about how the health law fits into the Capitol Hill agenda for the year ahead.

6 Jan 2014

Viewpoints: Stop 'bailout' of Obamacare; health law not to blame for all insurance woes; 'theft' of Medicare advantage money

Shrinking revenues and rising costs could bring on the "death spiral" - an unbalanced patient pool forcing huge premium increases (to restore revenue) that would further unbalance the patient pool as the young and healthy drop out. End result? Insolvency

6 Jan 2014

Romney, Paul knock health law, Reid: 'It's already working'

On ObamaCare, Reid defended the new law, even though he criticized the initial rollout by the Obama administration as "awful." Citing a recent conversation with White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Reid said the enrollment numbers for the insurance exchanges would be "staggering" come April 1, when the six-month sign-up period ends. "It's already working," he said of the law (Berman, 1/5).

6 Jan 2014

State highlights: Moving Americans out of nursing homes; Kansas to get Medicaid bonus; Va. gov. names mental health task force

For 60 years, Bobbie Jones, 88, had lived in the same Petworth rowhouse where she raised four children -- including one born in an upstairs bedroom -- and became a grandmother to 10 and a great-grandmother to nine. But last year, a stroke and a fall landed her in the hospital and then in a nursing home. In the past, a nursing home might have wound up being where she lived out the rest of her days. But through a new program that helps District residents receive care in their homes and communities, Jones was able to go home. She is among 58 people who have been relocated since the D.C. Office on Aging launched its Nursing Home Transition Program in April (Bahrampour, 1/2).

6 Jan 2014

Confusion for people who enrolled in Medicaid on healthcare.gov

Some people who applied early in the open enrollment period may not actually be signed up for the program and may be flummoxed by federal robocalls encouraging them to apply again directly to state agencies. Also, news outlets offer updates from Missouri, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

6 Jan 2014

Medicaid expansion boosted emergency room visits in Oregon, study finds

A new study of a 2008 expansion of Oregon's Medicaid program showed those with new coverage used emergency rooms 40 percent more often than other adults, throwing some water on the long-held argument that expanding Medicaid coverage lowers ER usage and boosts primary care visits.

5 Jan 2014

First Edition: January 3, 2014

Today's headlines include coverage of a new study examining how Oregon's ER usage increased after expanding Medicaid.

3 Jan 2014

Viewpoints: Michael Moore finds health law affordability 'a cruel joke'; can more marketing help sell insurance?

Now that the individual mandate is officially here, let me begin with an admission: Obamacare is awful. That is the dirty little secret many liberals have avoided saying out loud for fear of aiding the president's enemies, at a time when the ideal of universal health care needed all the support it could get. ... For many people, the "affordable" part of the Affordable Care Act risks being a cruel joke. ... And yet -- I would be remiss if I didn't say this -- Obamacare is a godsend (Michael Moore, 12/31/13).

3 Jan 2014

State roundup: 'Hope' for Texas' mental health system; rural farmers staying out of health exchanges; Oregon's medical error law

A selection of health policy news from Oregon, Texas, Maryland, California, Georgia and Wisconsin.

3 Jan 2014

Second Obama administration official resigns after troubled healthcare.gov rollout

Michelle Snyder oversaw technology experts who helped build healthcare.gov and is the second administration official to leave after problems with the website where Americans can buy health insurance.

3 Jan 2014

Five Star Quality Care transfers operations of two rehabilitation hospitals to Reliant-affiliated entities

Five Star Quality Care, Inc. today announced that effective December 31, 2013, it has transferred the operations of two rehabilitation hospitals to entities affiliated with Reliant Hospital Partners, LLC of Richardson, TX.

3 Jan 2014

Detailing the numbers: Parsing the latest HHS tally of new enrollees

According to reports, 2.1 million people have signed up for new insurance coverage and 3.9 million have been found eligible for Medicaid. Who are these people and what do the numbers mean?

3 Jan 2014

Study shows physicians with longer experience using EHRs more likely to report clinical benefits

A new study in Health Services Research finds nearly three-quarters of physicians using electronic health records (EHRs) in 2011 said there were clinical benefits when patients' medical histories were kept in digital files. The study focused on doctors' perceptions of clinical benefits to patient care when EHRs were in place.

3 Jan 2014

Winners and losers: Some will see big benefits from the overhaul, others may take hits

USA Today reports midsize businesses may be the ones having the hardest time absorbing health care costs while other groups -- for instance, newly released prisoners -- could finally be eligible for health coverage.

3 Jan 2014

Increased funding for community health centers helps low-income adults get access to care

Increased federal funding for community health centers since 2000 has helped low-income adults get access to primary care and dental care, according to a new study inHealth Services Research. The study underscores the important roles such centers will play under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

3 Jan 2014

With implementation of health law, Medicaid expands to broader role

The Washington Post examines how the health overhaul moves many middle-class Americans into the program that has long been viewed as insurance for the poor. Meanwhile, Virginia Republicans downplay the issue in a recent survey.

3 Jan 2014

After bumpy launch, consumers start using health law coverage

Nearly four years after passage of the health law, its major provisions finally took effect Jan. 1 and millions of Americans are about to see how it really works. Media outlets offer tip sheets to consumers and report on the challenges that lie ahead.

2 Jan 2014

Healthcare Trust of America closes $156 million of acquisitions in fourth quarter 2013

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. announced today that it had closed approximately $156 million of acquisitions in the fourth quarter of 2013. The fourth quarter acquisitions were highlighted by the agreement to acquire an eight medical office building portfolio from a regional developer in Florida for $141 million, $127 million of which closed in December (the "Florida Portfolio").

2 Jan 2014

Evaluating the rollout in the states

Media outlets track how the health law is being implemented in Texas, Iowa, Mississippi, Florida, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois and Minnesota.

2 Jan 2014

Medicaid News and Research

How Obamacare coverage is shaking out

First Edition: January 6, 2014

Viewpoints: Stop 'bailout' of Obamacare; health law not to blame for all insurance woes; 'theft' of Medicare advantage money

Romney, Paul knock health law, Reid: 'It's already working'

State highlights: Moving Americans out of nursing homes; Kansas to get Medicaid bonus; Va. gov. names mental health task force

Confusion for people who enrolled in Medicaid on healthcare.gov

Medicaid expansion boosted emergency room visits in Oregon, study finds

First Edition: January 3, 2014

Viewpoints: Michael Moore finds health law affordability 'a cruel joke'; can more marketing help sell insurance?

State roundup: 'Hope' for Texas' mental health system; rural farmers staying out of health exchanges; Oregon's medical error law

Second Obama administration official resigns after troubled healthcare.gov rollout

Five Star Quality Care transfers operations of two rehabilitation hospitals to Reliant-affiliated entities

Detailing the numbers: Parsing the latest HHS tally of new enrollees

Study shows physicians with longer experience using EHRs more likely to report clinical benefits

Winners and losers: Some will see big benefits from the overhaul, others may take hits

Increased funding for community health centers helps low-income adults get access to care

With implementation of health law, Medicaid expands to broader role

After bumpy launch, consumers start using health law coverage

Healthcare Trust of America closes $156 million of acquisitions in fourth quarter 2013

Evaluating the rollout in the states

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