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.

Medicaid expansion a good deal for states, study finds

The RAND Corp. study looks at 14 states refusing to expand the federal-state program for the poor under the health law and concludes their share of the costs would be lower than providing uncompensated care to uninsured residents.

5 Jun 2013

HHS unveils Medicare claims data detailing hospital price information for outpatient treatment

The average charges for 30 hospital outpatient procedures show big hospital-to-hospital variation in terms of how much the facilities bill patients for the same service.

5 Jun 2013

Conn. budget moves Medicaid money, cuts some hospital funding

Connecticut lawmakers approved a budget Monday that moves about $6 billion in federal Medicaid dollars out of the budget. The budget also cuts some hospital funding.

5 Jun 2013

Private companies get mixed marks on managed Medicaid

Atlanta Journal Constitution: 'Managed Medicaid' Gets Mixed Grades For-profit companies paid billions of taxpayer dollars to coordinate medical care for poor children and pregnant women on Medicaid excel at paperwork but fall short when it comes to improving the health of patients, a recent report concludes (Williams, 6/2).

4 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 4, 2013

Today's headlines include a report about what the Democrats' health law strategy might be as the 2014 mid-term elections approach.

4 Jun 2013

Study demonstrates significant mortality rate among non-adhering heart transplant adolescent patients

After receiving an organ transplant, patients must follow a regimented medication routine to maintain the health of their graft (transplanted organ). Failure to do so, known as non-adherence (NA), can result in life-threatening illness.

4 Jun 2013

States grapple with mental health care after federal inaction

Mental health legislation is taking the spotlight in states after federal lawmakers have failed so far to act. In Wisconsin, some mental health care changes gain momentum.

4 Jun 2013

Viewpoints: Current insurance was made cheaper by turning away the sick; Even in Obama's Illinois, implementing changes is tough

Some people will find the new rules make insurance more expensive. That's in part because their health insurance was made cheap by turning away sick people. The new rules also won't allow for as much discrimination based on age or gender. The flip side of that, of course, is that many will suddenly find their health insurance is much cheaper, or they will find that, for the first time, they're not turned away when they try to buy health insurance (Ezra Klein, 6/1).

4 Jun 2013

State highlights: Calif. bill would fine big employers with employees on Medi-Cal; Abortion fight set in N.Y. Senate

For years, politicians and labor unions have pilloried Wal-Mart and other large employers for paying workers so little that many qualify for government health insurance at taxpayers' expense. Now critics fear the public will get stuck with an even bigger tab as California and other states expand Medicaid as part of the federal health care law.

4 Jun 2013

Chances for deficit deal diminish as Medicare's outlook improves

Last week's report on Medicare projected that the program's hospital trust fund would be solvent until 2026 -- two years longer than the last prediction. That slowing of health care costs, combined with shrinking near-term federal deficits and partisan gridlock are making a congressional deficit deal unlikely, at least until after the 2014 elections.

4 Jun 2013

Medicaid expansion deepens GOP intraparty rifts

The different positions taken by various Republican governors on the health law's Medicaid expansion underscore the political divisions in play.

4 Jun 2013

Physicians call for tax hike on tobacco, alcoholic beverages; new tax on sugary drinks, fatty foods

Go ye and sin no more -- or pay for it, when it comes to junk food, smoking and consuming alcohol. That's the message from two Mayo Clinic physicians who say raising "sin" taxes on tobacco and alcoholic beverages and imposing them on sugary drinks and fatty foods would lead many people to cut back, improving public health.

4 Jun 2013

Federal judge lifts ban on Medicare releasing individual doctor data

A federal judge has lifted the ban on Medicare releasing data on individual doctors to the public. The end on the 33-year ban -- after the publishers of The Wall Street Journal sued to end it -- could mean closer scrutiny of doctor practices in the program.

4 Jun 2013

HHS limits Obamacare options for small businesses

A final rule released Friday confirms that a provision of the health law aimed at helping small businesses provide insurance to their employees will be limited until 2015.

4 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 3, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from major news organizations, including a number of stories detail health law implementation developments.

3 Jun 2013

State highlights: Mo. Gov. worried tax cut bill raises prescription drug sales tax; deadline day for bonus for Fla. Medicaid docs

St. Louis Beacon: Nixon Says Tax Cut Bill Removes Missouri's Sales Tax Break For Prescription Drugs. Gov. Jay Nixon has upped the ante in his criticism of a broad-based tax cut bill awaiting his decision, saying Thursday that it removes a sales tax exemption for prescription drugs that will raise taxes for millions of Missourians. One sponsor of the bill says there's plenty of time for the legislature to correct what he deemed a drafting error (Rosenbaum, 5/30).

1 Jun 2013

Research roundup: Questioning money-saving value of kids' preventive dentistry, weight loss

Although early preventive dental visits are widely recommended for children, it is unclear whether they reduce future dental visits or costs.

1 Jun 2013

Analysts predict continued Medicare cost growth slowdown

As Medicare and Social Security's trustees prepare to release their annual report Friday, USA Today reports that the rate of increase in overall Medicare spending could continue to slow because of the 2010 health law. The Associated Press reports that a slowed upward curve only delays a day of reckoning for the popular programs, however.

1 Jun 2013

Medicaid expansion: Maine looks at another plan; Advocates lobby N.H., Missouri lawmakers

States wrestle with the issue of expanding their Medicaid programs under the federal health law.

1 Jun 2013

First Edition: May 31, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports from the administration about the number of insurers that will be offering policies on the new online marketplaces.

31 May 2013

Medicaid News and Research

Medicaid expansion a good deal for states, study finds

HHS unveils Medicare claims data detailing hospital price information for outpatient treatment

Conn. budget moves Medicaid money, cuts some hospital funding

Private companies get mixed marks on managed Medicaid

First Edition: June 4, 2013

Study demonstrates significant mortality rate among non-adhering heart transplant adolescent patients

States grapple with mental health care after federal inaction

Viewpoints: Current insurance was made cheaper by turning away the sick; Even in Obama's Illinois, implementing changes is tough

State highlights: Calif. bill would fine big employers with employees on Medi-Cal; Abortion fight set in N.Y. Senate

Chances for deficit deal diminish as Medicare's outlook improves

Medicaid expansion deepens GOP intraparty rifts

Physicians call for tax hike on tobacco, alcoholic beverages; new tax on sugary drinks, fatty foods

Federal judge lifts ban on Medicare releasing individual doctor data

HHS limits Obamacare options for small businesses

First Edition: June 3, 2013

State highlights: Mo. Gov. worried tax cut bill raises prescription drug sales tax; deadline day for bonus for Fla. Medicaid docs

Research roundup: Questioning money-saving value of kids' preventive dentistry, weight loss

Analysts predict continued Medicare cost growth slowdown

Medicaid expansion: Maine looks at another plan; Advocates lobby N.H., Missouri lawmakers

First Edition: May 31, 2013

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