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Highlights: Report finds Mass. Medicaid managed care doesn't reduce fees; Calif. delays nonprofit status requirement for adult day centers

Insurers that contract with the state to manage the care of low-income Medicaid patients are expected to save money, in part by negotiating lower prices with health providers. But a new report by the state inspector general found that the plans pay higher fees to many hospitals and doctors than the traditional Medicaid program pays for the same services.

3 Aug 2012

First Edition: August 1, 2012

WBUR's Martha Bebinger, working in partnership with Kaiser Health News and NPR, reports: "The Massachusetts Legislature Tuesday passed the next phase of its ongoing attempt to reform the health care system: sweeping cost control legislation. Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, hailed the lawmakers' work saying, 'This is more than a good bill, a great bill.'"

1 Aug 2012

Roundup: Most high-ranking Iowa gov't employees to pay more for health care; Federal judge strikes Fla. law on docs asking about guns

The New Jersey state Legislature endorsed a constitutional amendment Monday requiring judges to contribute more to their government benefits, sending to voters an issue that some consider a linchpin of judicial independence. In a rare midsummer voting session, lawmakers responded quickly and almost unanimously to a state Supreme Court decision last week that said judges can't be forced to pay more for pension and health benefits, as other government workers were in a historic 2011 law.

31 Jul 2012

Roundup: N.J. public may decide if judges should pay more for health care; Ore. Medicaid experiment to launch; Uncertainty around Va. abortion clinic rules

The New Jersey State Assembly is set to consider a measure that would allow voters to decide whether New Jersey judges should pay more for their pensions and health benefits. The state Supreme Court ruled last week that judges don't have to contribute more toward pensions and health care despite a new law requiring them to do so. The court said the law diminishes judges' salaries, which are protected by state law.

31 Jul 2012

Viewpoints: AIDS spread in U.S. South; Abortion opponents battle in Ariz.; GOP's costly effort to kill health law

More than 30 years into the AIDS epidemic, a combination of safe-sex education and a new generation of pharmaceuticals has left many Americans convinced that HIV/AIDS is a problem that has been, if not solved, at least addressed. But that's certainly not true in the American South, which accounts for nearly 50% of all new HIV infections in the United States.

27 Jul 2012

Molina Healthcare reports net loss of $37.3 million for second quarter 2012

Molina Healthcare, Inc. today reported its financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012.

27 Jul 2012

MedeAnalytics launches new resource center to optimize Medicaid managed care plans

MedeAnalytics, a leading provider of healthcare performance management solutions, today announced the launch of its Medicaid Managed Care Resource Center.

25 Jul 2012

Roundup: Minn. seeks its own independent Medicaid audit; Feds renew Wis. Family Care program

The Minnesota Department of Human Services is commissioning an independent audit to respond to lingering questions about the state Medicaid program's past practices in paying private HMOs. The Medicaid rate-setting process also is the subject of several federal investigations. Questions have swirled at the state Capitol this year about whether Minnesota officials have been manipulating the rate certification process in Medicaid to wrongly gain excess federal funds.

25 Jul 2012

State roundup: Texas Medicaid fraud probes use controversial tool

When it comes to finding cost savings in the state's unwieldy Medicaid program, the Health and Human Services Commission's Office of Inspector General gets high marks. … But OIG's dollar-recovery strategy -- which includes an increased reliance on a rule that allows investigators to freeze financing for any health provider accused of overbilling -- has enraged doctors, dentists and other providers who treat Medicaid patients.

21 Jul 2012

HHS issues final rule on essential health benefits data collection

Meanwhile, new research from the Center for Studying Health System Change indicates that more small businesses may be self-insuring -- a step that will reduce their participation in the health law's insurance exchanges.

21 Jul 2012

Roundup: Iowa union files complaint over Gov. order on insurance; Fla. denies it covered up TB outbreak

Iowa's largest public employees' union filed a complaint today with the state alleging Gov. Terry Branstad broke the law when he signed an executive order that allows state workers to voluntarily pay 20 percent of their health insurance premiums. The prohibitive practice complaint filed with the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board alleges state law bans Branstad from making unilateral changes to health insurance plans because they are collectively bargained, said Danny Homan, president Council 61 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

12 Jul 2012

Medicaid news: La. preps managed care cuts; Fewer Texas docs accept new patients

The Medicaid program in Louisiana is preparing to cut payments to providers who run its managed care program. In Texas, only 31 percent of doctors take new Medicaid patients, a survey says.

10 Jul 2012

Roundup: Calif. insurers to lower rate hikes for small businesses, Mass. Gov backs easing doc gift ban

Tens of thousands of small businesses in California collectively will save $48 million on their health insurance bills starting this month now that three insurers have agreed to reduce pending rate hikes.

10 Jul 2012

Doctor groups sue Aetna, insurer says it's retaliation

In their lawsuit, California physicians claim Aetna is unfair to patients getting care outside of preferred-provider networks. The company says the suit is payback for Aetna's own suit alleging corruption earlier this year.

6 Jul 2012

First Edition: July 5, 2012

Early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including articles on Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's statement that the health law individual mandate is a tax.

5 Jul 2012

State roundup: Mass. health law success; Penn. Medicaid cut reversed

Massachusetts has the nation's highest rate of residents with health insurance. Visits to emergency rooms are beginning to ease. More residents are getting cancer screenings and more women are making prenatal doctors' visits. Still, one of the biggest challenges for the state lies ahead: reining in spiraling costs.

4 Jul 2012

Viewpoints: Coherent GOP plan for health care; Dems need better 'sales pitch' for health law

Hostility toward the Supreme Court has risen sharply since Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. upheld the Obama health care law. People are apparently angry that the court didn't rid them of a law they detest. But that's silly. If Americans want to replace this thing, they should do it themselves. ... Moreover, there are alternatives. Despite what you've read, there is a coherent Republican plan.