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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.

Maine Democratic Rep. Allen proposes mix of public, private health plans to achieve universal coverage

U.S. Rep. Tom Allen (D-Maine) on Wednesday announced a health care proposal that would aim to provide health coverage for all U.S. residents using a combination of public and private plans, the Portland Press Herald reports. Allen is running against sitting Sen. Susan Collins (R).

30 May 2008

South Carolina House fails to override veto of cigarette tax increase that would have funded health care programs

The South Carolina House on Tuesday failed to override Gov. Mark Sanford's (R) veto of legislation that would have increased the state cigarette tax to expand health care coverage for low-income residents, the Columbia State reports (O'Connor, Columbia State, 5/28).

30 May 2008

CQ's Carey discusses Medicare legislation, Medicaid regulations, bipartisan health care summit

Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, discusses Senate Democrats' plans to craft legislation that would stop a scheduled reduction in Medicare physician payments; a provision in a supplemental war spending bill that would block for one year new Medicaid regulations; and a bicameral, bipartisan health policy summit set for June in this week's "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ."

28 May 2008

States that rank high in measures of children's health tend to have lower rates of uninsured children, higher health costs

Children in states with higher rates of insured children are more likely to receive higher-quality health care, according to a Commonwealth Fund study released Wednesday, McClatchy/Kansas City Star reports.

28 May 2008

CMS approves Pennsylvania Medicaid Waiver Program to help residents with autism

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) on Thursday announced that CMS earlier this month granted approval of a waiver program that allows the state to allocate part of its federal Medicaid funds toward services for adult residents with autism, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

28 May 2008

Federal Judge prevents 'sneaky attempt' by Bush administration to implement Medicaid rule, editorial states

Judge James Robertson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Friday "slapped down a sneaky attempt by the Bush administration to impose an onerous Medicaid regulation despite the clear intent of Congress that it be deferred," according to a New York Times editorial.

28 May 2008

Pennsylvania State agency seeks to gain control of Medicaid managed care plans' prescription drug benefits

The administration of Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) has proposed shifting control of the prescription drug component of Medicaid managed care plans to the state Department of Public Welfare, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

22 May 2008

Kaiser Family Foundation creates new online tool that provides latest health policy facts and data

The Kaiser Family Foundation today launched Kaiser Fast Facts, a new component of its kff.org Web site, featuring QuickTakes and Kaiser Slides – two new tools providing direct access to facts, data and slides about the nation's health care system and programs, in an easy-to-use format.

22 May 2008

Senate leaders reach agreement on process for considering war supplemental spending bill, Medicaid provision

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday reached an agreement on a process for Senate consideration of the war supplemental appropriations bill (HR 2642), including a provision to delay for one year seven new Medicaid regulations proposed by the Bush administration, the AP/Detroit News reports (Taylor, AP/Detroit News, 5/22).

22 May 2008

Louisiana Gov. Jindal's administration asks State Senate to restore millions in health care budget cuts

The administration of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) on Monday called on state senators to restore millions of dollars in health care program cuts that were approved last week by the House, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. The House approved a $30 billion state budget for fiscal year 2009 that includes $240 million less than Jindal's proposed budget.

22 May 2008

New efforts to improve medical products for patient safety

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced efforts underway at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that will complement each other to improve patient safety and the quality of medical care.

22 May 2008

Eliminating Medicaid dental benefits could lead to more costly treatment for California residents, report finds

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) proposal to eliminate dental benefits for nearly three million state residents as part of a plan to address the state budget deficit would result in a loss of about $115 million in federal matching funds and lead to more costly medical treatment, according to a report released Monday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

21 May 2008

Senate to vote Thursday on war supplemental appropriations bill with Medicaid provisions

Senate Democrats on Tuesday "scaled down" their version of the war supplemental appropriations bill but retained a provision that would block for one year seven new Medicaid regulations proposed by the Bush administration, CQ Today reports.

21 May 2008

Rep. Ryan proposes plan to reduce entitlement spending, revise health care system

A "growing, bipartisan consensus" exists among lawmakers about the "greatest threat to our nation's long-term economic prosperity: the explosion of entitlement spending," which "Washington is not planning to address ... this week, or any time soon," effectively "shackling our future with unsustainable debt and taxes," Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), a member of the House Budget Committee, writes in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece.

21 May 2008

Report cites 15 New York State HMOs for setting consumer restrictions on prescription drugs to boost profits

Some HMOs in New York state are restricting patients' access to so-called single-source drugs, brand-name medications for specific ailments that do not have lower-cost generic versions, according to a report released on Sunday, the New York Daily News reports.

20 May 2008

Some specialty hospitals would benefit from amendment in supplemental war appropriations bill

Several physician-owned specialty hospitals in the states of four Senate Appropriations Committee Democrats would benefit from an amendment to a supplemental war appropriations bill (HR 2642) that would allow the facilities to continue participating in Medicare and Medicaid, CQ Today reports.

20 May 2008

National Community Pharmacists Association to launch ad campaign to lobby lawmakers for policy changes

The National Community Pharmacists Association this week plans to launch a new advertising campaign that asks lawmakers to address two policies that the group maintains has or will result in closures of community pharmacies, CongressDaily reports. As part of the launch of the campaign, about 500 community pharmacists and independent pharmacy owners will visit Washington, D.C.

19 May 2008

Coalition proposes using Medicaid, SCHIP funds to purchase private coverage for uninsured

Officials from the Healthcare Leadership Council, a coalition of health insurers, academics, hospitals and other health care groups, proposed using Medicaid and SCHIP funds to purchase private coverage for uninsured U.S. residents, CQ HealthBeat reports.

19 May 2008

Michigan Judge rules against Blue Cross Blue Shield rate hikes, cites large surplus

A Michigan administrative law judge on Wednesday ruled that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan would not be justified in increasing premiums by 24% to 42% for individual health insurance plans, the Detroit Free Press reports.

19 May 2008

Chronic disease management: Does it improve health and save money?

A study published in the May/June issue of Health Affairs reports on the first randomized trial providing a scientifically valid look at what one might expect from chronic disease management programs that serve low-income individuals. The study result provides good news for state Medicaid leaders struggling to meet the needs of individuals with chronic conditions and also suggests that some disease management efforts, even among relatively low-risk patients, may be an effective strategy.

13 May 2008

Medicaid News and Research

Maine Democratic Rep. Allen proposes mix of public, private health plans to achieve universal coverage

South Carolina House fails to override veto of cigarette tax increase that would have funded health care programs

CQ's Carey discusses Medicare legislation, Medicaid regulations, bipartisan health care summit

States that rank high in measures of children's health tend to have lower rates of uninsured children, higher health costs

CMS approves Pennsylvania Medicaid Waiver Program to help residents with autism

Federal Judge prevents 'sneaky attempt' by Bush administration to implement Medicaid rule, editorial states

Pennsylvania State agency seeks to gain control of Medicaid managed care plans' prescription drug benefits

Kaiser Family Foundation creates new online tool that provides latest health policy facts and data

Senate leaders reach agreement on process for considering war supplemental spending bill, Medicaid provision

Louisiana Gov. Jindal's administration asks State Senate to restore millions in health care budget cuts

New efforts to improve medical products for patient safety

Eliminating Medicaid dental benefits could lead to more costly treatment for California residents, report finds

Senate to vote Thursday on war supplemental appropriations bill with Medicaid provisions

Rep. Ryan proposes plan to reduce entitlement spending, revise health care system

Report cites 15 New York State HMOs for setting consumer restrictions on prescription drugs to boost profits

Some specialty hospitals would benefit from amendment in supplemental war appropriations bill

National Community Pharmacists Association to launch ad campaign to lobby lawmakers for policy changes

Coalition proposes using Medicaid, SCHIP funds to purchase private coverage for uninsured

Michigan Judge rules against Blue Cross Blue Shield rate hikes, cites large surplus

Chronic disease management: Does it improve health and save money?

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