Medicaid News and Research

RSS

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.

Lawmakers, public take aim at deal struck for Sen. Nelson

News outlets report on deals struck with individual senators, in particular Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., in an effort to win support for health care legislation.

24 Dec 2009

Republicans bitter about deals, resigned about likely overhaul passage

After a series of last minute deals paved the way for Senate Democrats to move forward with health overhaul legislation, Republicans lashed out, but also acknowledged that their options for fighting the legislation at this late date are limited.

24 Dec 2009

Costs of health overhaul may be felt before benefits accrue

The Associated Press reports: "The costs of health care reform being pushed through Congress by Democrats will be felt long before the benefits. Proposed taxes and fees on upper-income earners, insurers, even tanning parlors, take effect quickly.

23 Dec 2009

SNM urges Congress to implement long-term solution for medical reimbursement rates

SNM is pleased that the U.S. Congress has passed a fix to freeze the conversion factor at the 2009 rate for physicians, which will ensure that millions of patients continue to receive medical coverage for critical diagnostic imaging tests and therapeutics.

23 Dec 2009

Bishops urge Congress and the Administration to fashion health care reform legislation

The current health care reform bill is "deficient" and should not move forward without "essential changes," the chairmen of three committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops said December 22.

23 Dec 2009

St. John Health System to pay over $13M for settling False Claims Act allegations

St. John Health System, headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., has agreed to pay the United States $13,229,348.88 to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced today.

23 Dec 2009

InstaMed Platform and Network product achieves CORE Phase II rules certification

InstaMed, the industry leading healthcare payments network and platform, announced today that it has achieved CAQH® Committee on Operating Rules for Information Exchange (CORE®) Phase II rules certification for its InstaMed Platform and Network product.

23 Dec 2009

CompCare to provide managed behavioral health services for Universal Health Care Group members

Comprehensive Care Corporation (CompCare) today announced it will provide managed behavioral health services for Universal Health Care Group’s 100,000 Medicaid, Medicare, and Private Fee-for-Service plan members in eleven states.

22 Dec 2009

Warrants issued in connection with AdCare Health Systems' initial public offering amended

AdCare Health Systems, Inc., an Ohio based long term care, home care and management company today reported that the warrants issued in connection with AdCare's initial public offering were amended to conform to the terms of the new warrants that were included in the Company's recent private placement that raised $2.5 million in cash to fund its current growth initiatives.

22 Dec 2009

Sausage-making greases overhaul votes and fuels criticisms

Last-minute, multimillion-dollar deals with wavering Democrats helped secure the support of all 58 Democrats and 2 independents needed to pass the overhaul bill, but they may also set a new bar for future horse trading, Politico reports. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., "won a provision exempting his state from paying the usual share of costs for new Medicaid patients. The deal critics have dubbed the Cornhusker Kickback is expected to cost the federal government $100 million over 10 years."

22 Dec 2009

Local leaders react to Senate health overhaul bill

Local leaders are reacting to the health care overhaul as the Senate passage of the bill creeps closer.

22 Dec 2009

Disability-related problems continue to rise among older adults

Disability rates among non-institutionalized older Americans increased between 2000 and 2005, a trend that could seriously impact the quality of life of seniors in the coming decades if it continues, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Toronto and the University of California, Berkeley.

22 Dec 2009

How health reform might affect 'Young Invincibles'

ProPublica profiles a "young invincible" and reports on what a health care overhaul might mean for him.

22 Dec 2009

Republicans blast Senate deal-making; contemplate delays

Republicans continue to critique the deal-making process to win over Senate votes for the health care overhaul.

22 Dec 2009

Prescription medication at lower costs for Oregon state agency employees

Public employees in the state of Oregon will soon have access to a wider range of prescription medication at lower costs.

22 Dec 2009

Health care reform legislation will increase premiums for New Yorkers

Mark Wagar, President and CEO of Empire BlueCross BlueShield urged further improvement to the federal health care reform legislation that today does little to control the rising costs of health care and will increase premiums for too many New Yorkers and too many across the nation.

22 Dec 2009

US Family Health Plan achieves 2009 member satisfaction

One might call it “the little healthcare plan that could.” While the debate over healthcare reform rages, the US Family Health Plan, a Department of Defense-sponsored healthcare plan administered by CHRISTUS Health of Houston for about 11,000 military family members in southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana, has achieved a 2009 member satisfaction rating 44.5 percent above the national average.

22 Dec 2009

TCH 2010 bonds rated 'AA'

Fitch Ratings has assigned an 'AA' rating to Texas Children's Hospital's (TCH) upcoming $78.82 million series 2010 bonds issued through the Harris County Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corporation (Cultural Corporation). In addition, Fitch affirms the unenhanced 'AA' ratings on TCH's outstanding debt (approximately $735 million as of Sept. 30, 2009) issued by the Cultural Corporation and by the Harris County Health Facilities Development Corporation. vv

22 Dec 2009

GE extends Stimulus Simplicity program to include Centricity Business solution suite

As part of its ongoing efforts to facilitate healthcare providers’ adoption of healthcare information technology, GE announced today that it is extending the purchasing options associated with its Stimulus SimplicityTM program – 0% payment terms and deferred payments until 2012* – to include new purchases of its Centricity® Business solution suite.

22 Dec 2009

HQP enters into agreement with Aetna to provide nurse care management services

Health Quality Partners (HQP) has entered into a three-year agreement with Aetna to provide nurse care management services to Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan members with certain chronic health conditions who receive their care at participating practices in Bucks, Montgomery, Lehigh and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania.

22 Dec 2009