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 advocates worry about administration plan

Politico reports that advocates fear an idea proposed by the Obama administration to change the way federal matching funds work could have very negative results. Meanwhile, groups — including faith-based organizations — opposing Medicaid cuts continue to step forward.

30 Jun 2011

Viewpoints: Calif.'s budget, Supreme Court drug rulings, the Avastin debate

The budget is not realistic, counting on fantastical revenue projections as well as a redevelopment gambit that's likely to be blocked in court. It makes deep cuts in state programs that will have unwelcome repercussions in years to come. And if the revenue projections prove to be as overly optimistic as they seem, there will be more damaging cuts to education, child care and health services. Nevertheless, it's a more earnest effort to clean up the state's budget mess than Sacramento has seen in a decade or more.

30 Jun 2011

Interest, uncertainty surround health exchanges, ACOs

In other news related to health law implementation, Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., has co-sponsored legislation to allow states to opt out of the health law until legal challenges related to it are resolved.

29 Jun 2011

First Edition: June 29, 2011

In today's news, two senators offer a new plan for Medicare cuts -- which includes increasing the eligibility age -- but top Democrats lined up against it.

29 Jun 2011

President steps in as debt talks remain divided — Medicare savings in exchange for added revenue?

As the high-level negotiations continue, health care advocates are stepping up their campaigns to protect against Medicare and Medicaid cuts. Meanwhile, organizations representing physicians — including the American Medical Association — maintain that a permanent fix to Medicare's physician payment formula should be included in the debt-ceiling legislation.

29 Jun 2011

ACO criticism continues; Health exchanges 'a new goldmine'

As health care providers consider structuring accountable care organizations, the nation's employer community wants to be sure they have a place in those discussions.

29 Jun 2011

Texas passes health program revamp; Oregon House acts to create better coordinated care

The Legislature approved and sent to the governor Monday a health care savings bill under which Texas could seek permission to redesign entirely the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and abortion-rights opponents scored several victories in the measure (Garrett, 6/27).

29 Jun 2011

Aetna acquires Prodigy Health Group

Aetna today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Prodigy Health Group, the nation's largest independent third party administrator (TPA) of self-funded health care plans.

29 Jun 2011

Roundup: UMass students complain about insurance plan; Indiana stops paying for children's vaccines; Suit filed to stop Arizona Medicaid cuts

Student leaders at the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus say changes in the students' health insurance plan will unfairly hit hardest on women, low-income students, and those with mental illnesses.

29 Jun 2011

First Edition: June 28, 2011

Today's headlines include reports from the states about action on public employee benefit reforms and Planned Parenthood funding.

28 Jun 2011

Many advanced breast cancer patients do not receive postmastectomy radiation therapy

Forty-five percent of women with advanced breast cancer in the U.S. did not receive postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) despite the publication of evidence-based guidelines outlining PMRT as a potentially lifesaving treatment, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

28 Jun 2011

Care for 'dual eligibles' proves ultra-expensive, plagued with problems

As the U.S. wrestles with rising health expenses, one group of patients stands out for government-paid care that is both ultra-costly and plagued with problems.

28 Jun 2011

HHSC, Texas Health extend Kofax Capture solution

Kofax plc, the leading provider of document driven business process automation solutions, today announced the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has extended its Kofax Capture solution to process a higher number of documents annually.

28 Jun 2011

Health care providers brace for new round of Medicaid cuts

But the one Medicaid cost that states have usually been able to cut without worrying too much about the federal government is reimbursement to the providers themselves. And that is what most of them are doing this year. At least 33 states have reduced provider fees for the fiscal year that starts July 1, according to a report by the National Association of Budget Officers.

28 Jun 2011

RL Solutions, 3M to offer new software for minimizing risk of healthcare-acquired infections

3M Infection Prevention and RL Solutions today announced a joint feasibility program to provide healthcare facilities data on the rate of infection in real-time and the costs associated with those infections.

28 Jun 2011

Health law headlines: PR challenges and overhaul tell-alls

Although Democrats are having some success with attacks on the GOP Medicare plan, they are still playing defense on the health law, according to Politico. Meanwhile, former Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag writes a "tell-all" for the magazine Foreign Affairs about the health overhaul.

28 Jun 2011

UC Health chooses Recondo software services to reduce costly insurance denials

UC Health, the University of Cincinnati Hospital system, has selected Recondo software services Auth-DP and EligibilityPlus.

28 Jun 2011

With the clock ticking, Obama enters deficit negotiations

Even though the threat of default looms, Democrats and Republicans remain split over the possibility of tax increases and cuts to programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

27 Jun 2011

Abortion policies under scrutiny in a number of states

Wisconsin's governor signed a budget that cuts some funds to health clinics, including Planned Parenthood, but in Indiana, a federal judge ruled against the state's plans to end funding for the group. Those developments came as abortion policies are coming under scrutiny in a number of states.

27 Jun 2011

Passport Health Communications wins revenue cycle solution contract with SSM Health Care

Passport Health Communications Inc. has announced a contract to deliver revenue cycle software and services to 15 hospitals owned and operated by St. Louis-based SSM Health Care. SSM will use Passport's integrated Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions to improve the speed, accuracy and efficiency of financial operations within each facility and achieve Payment Certainty for Every Patient™.

27 Jun 2011