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.

HHS approves Medicaid expansion for Minnesota

Gov. Mark Dayton's plan to expand the state's Medicaid rolls by 95,000 people has been approved by federal authorities, his office said Thursday. The move, which begins March 1, will provide health insurance to 12,000 low-income adults who previously were uninsured, and broader coverage at lower cost to another 83,000 who received care under two state-funded programs, MinnesotaCare and General Assistance Medical Care (2/17).

19 Feb 2011

State roundup: Mass. cost control plan advances; Texas Senate's abortion bill vote; Miami's public hospital crisis

The governor of Massachusetts proposed changes on Thursday to the state's comprehensive healthcare program, one often seen as a prototype for national reforms, to attempt to bring rising costs under control. The plan would give the U.S. state more authority to scrutinize fees paid to hospitals and doctors, reform the current standard by which healthcare providers are compensated and enact medical malpractice reform.

19 Feb 2011

Worksmart to provide Free EMR software for physician clients that utilize its medical services

WorkSmart MD, Inc. announced today it will provide Free EMR software to its physician clients that utilize its medical billing and practice management services.

19 Feb 2011

Universal Health Care enters into new four-year $40 million senior credit facility

Universal Health Care Group, Inc., a leading managed care organization, today announced that it has entered into a new, four-year, $40 million senior credit facility. The purpose of the borrowings are for the repurchase of shares from a minority private equity shareholder and for general corporate purposes.

18 Feb 2011

LifePoint fourth quarter revenues decrease 5.5% to $36.3 million

LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. today announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010.

18 Feb 2011

HMS fourth quarter revenues increase 31.4% to $87.2 million

HMS Holdings Corp. today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010.

18 Feb 2011

Longer looks: KHN's best health policy picks from thought-provoking publications

A law under consideration in South Dakota would expand the definition of "justifiable homicide" to include killings that are intended to prevent harm to a fetus—a move that could make it legal to kill doctors who perform abortions.

18 Feb 2011

Arizona plan to cut adults from Medicaid highlights possible 'escape hatch' for states

The Arizona move to shed these impoverished adults from the insurance plan for low-income people will now proceed despite a provision in the new health law prohibiting states from tightening their eligibility standards.

18 Feb 2011

State roundup: Gov't workers face benefit changes; worry over social service cuts

For many states, 2011 is the most trying budget year of a fiscal crisis now in its fourth year. Revenues generally remain lower than what they used to be; widespread joblessness is putting unprecedented strains on safety-net programs like Medicaid; and all this is happening as federal stimulus money runs out.

18 Feb 2011

In battle against health law, hard-liners advise GOP lawmakers not to 'fix it'

A Republican strategy firm urged GOP lawmakers to stand firm against the measure, and to only take action if affected industries "endorse full repeal."

18 Feb 2011

Senate 'Gang of Six' develops deficit reduction framework

A bipartisan group of senators is considering legislation that would trigger new taxes and budget cuts if Congress fails to meet a set of mandatory spending targets and other fiscal goals aimed at reducing federal deficits. The plan would break the task of deficit reduction into four pieces: a tax code overhaul; discretionary spending cuts; changes to Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlements; and changes to Social Security, aides said.

17 Feb 2011

Viewpoints: Arizona's waiver; next gen's 'different' Medicare?; individual mandate's constitutionality

There may be no federal obstacles to cutting 250,000 people out of AHCCCS, part of Gov. Jan Brewer's budget proposal. But there are compelling reasons to avoid such a drastic step if at all possible. And it's possible.

17 Feb 2011

More than 170 executives visit members of Congress to advocate for senior-friendly public policies

More than 170 executives from the senior living industry today visited with members of Congress to advocate for policies that will advance quality of life for America's seniors. The Assisted Living Federation of America facilitated the meetings and hosted a briefing about critical matters before Congress that could impact the future of senior living.

17 Feb 2011

CMS selects BWH to participate in Medicare Imaging Demonstration project

Brigham and Women's Hospital was selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as one of five conveners of a demonstration project that promotes appropriate utilization of advanced imaging services, CMS announced February 2, 2011.

17 Feb 2011

Viewpoints: NY Times on high-risk pools; GOP on Medicaid 'flexibility;' health workers' rights

As part of the new health care reform, the federal government and 27 state governments are establishing temporary high-risk pools to offer coverage for people with pre-existing conditions until the law takes full effect in 2014.

17 Feb 2011

Senate finance leaders push for permanent Medicare 'doc fix'

Both Committee Chair Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Ranking Member Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, are pushing for an overhaul of Medicare's physician payment formula. Meanwhile, Baucus is not "ready to commit" to hold confirmation hearings for the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services who has been re-nominated.

17 Feb 2011

Medicaid should stop paying more than Medicare for pharmacy benefits

To help reduce state Medicaid spending, the New York State Health Department yesterday proposed that the program's prescription drug benefits be managed more like those in Medicare and commercial plans. The Department's "Proposal to Redesign Medicaid" says this move would save state taxpayers $350 million though 2015.

17 Feb 2011

States grapple with new ways to cut state Medicaid costs

Among the strategies being used are efforts to change rules, revise definitions, tighten anti-fraud efforts and cut services.

17 Feb 2011

Can Obama, GOP find consensus on Medicare, Medicaid spending?

As criticism continues regarding President Barack Obama's budget plan, he acknowledged in a Tuesday speech that more needs to be done to resolve the nation's long-term budget problems and he signaled an interest in working toward a compromise with Republicans. Some GOP Senators responded by challenging Obama to begin such negotiations "swiftly."

17 Feb 2011

Arrests made in major Medicare fraud case

But CQ HealthBeat reports that the administration's top Medicare and Medicaid fraud buster told a Senate panel that the current-year spending plan being advanced by House Republicans could undermine the fed's efforts to reduce waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system.

16 Feb 2011

Medicaid News and Research

HHS approves Medicaid expansion for Minnesota

State roundup: Mass. cost control plan advances; Texas Senate's abortion bill vote; Miami's public hospital crisis

Worksmart to provide Free EMR software for physician clients that utilize its medical services

Universal Health Care enters into new four-year $40 million senior credit facility

LifePoint fourth quarter revenues decrease 5.5% to $36.3 million

HMS fourth quarter revenues increase 31.4% to $87.2 million

Longer looks: KHN's best health policy picks from thought-provoking publications

Arizona plan to cut adults from Medicaid highlights possible 'escape hatch' for states

State roundup: Gov't workers face benefit changes; worry over social service cuts

In battle against health law, hard-liners advise GOP lawmakers not to 'fix it'

Senate 'Gang of Six' develops deficit reduction framework

Viewpoints: Arizona's waiver; next gen's 'different' Medicare?; individual mandate's constitutionality

More than 170 executives visit members of Congress to advocate for senior-friendly public policies

CMS selects BWH to participate in Medicare Imaging Demonstration project

Viewpoints: NY Times on high-risk pools; GOP on Medicaid 'flexibility;' health workers' rights

Senate finance leaders push for permanent Medicare 'doc fix'

Medicaid should stop paying more than Medicare for pharmacy benefits

States grapple with new ways to cut state Medicaid costs

Can Obama, GOP find consensus on Medicare, Medicaid spending?

Arrests made in major Medicare fraud case

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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