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.

Few community health centers receive reimbursement for providing language services, report indicates

While 84% of community health centers treat patients with limited English proficiency on a daily basis, only 5% receive direct reimbursement for language services from Medicare, Medicaid or private insurers, according to a report released Monday by the National Association of Community Health Centers, CQ HealthBeat reports.

17 Jun 2008

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report rounds up health news from the campaign trail

Fifty-three percent of U.S. adults trust presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) more than presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) to address the issue of health care, compared with 33% who trust McCain more than Obama to address the issue, according to a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll, the Post reports.

17 Jun 2008

Newspapers highlight health care, economic proposals of Presidential candidates Obama, McCain

In broader pieces on the economy and taxes, two newspapers recently addressed parts of the health care proposals of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.).

17 Jun 2008

Hawaii physicians, hospitals urge Gov. Lingle to release Medicaid physician payment funds

Hawaii hospital officials and physicians are concerned that $18 million in Medicaid payments, including $10 million in federal matching funds, could be lost if Gov. Linda Lingle (R) does not authorize the release of $8 million for Medicaid physician payments by June 30, the Honolulu Advertiser reports.

17 Jun 2008

Coalition calls for end of redesigned Medicaid program in West Virginia

A coalition of religious, labor and health care activists, on Wednesday said West Virginia should suspend its redesigned Medicaid program because it penalizes low-income children and adults, the Charleston Gazette reports

17 Jun 2008

Utah Medicaid program to launch initiative to reduce unnecessary ED visits

The Bureau of Managed Health Care at the Utah Department of Health will launch a program geared toward state Medicaid beneficiaries that will "reroute patients to personal physicians who can provide better continual care at a lower cost," the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

11 Jun 2008

Congressional Democrats move to impose new limits on specialty hospitals

The New York Times on Sunday examined how Democrats -- who for years "have been trying to stop the proliferation of doctor-owned hospitals in the belief that they drive up costs by encouraging doctors to order more procedures" -- have moved to "impose new restrictions on these for-profit hospitals" as part of a Senate supplemental war appropriations bill, although they have "carved out exemptions for a few institutions represented by influential senators and well-connected lobbyists."

10 Jun 2008

Louisiana's Charity Hospitals need $35 million to continue services at current levels

Louisiana's Charity Hospitals will have to begin cutting services this summer unless the state Legislature provides them with an additional $35 million, Louisiana State University officials told the state Senate Finance Committee on Monday, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

8 Jun 2008

Kansas Health Institute News Service examines prospects for expanding health coverage in state

The Kansas Health Institute News Service on Monday in a series of articles examined prospects for expanding health coverage in Kansas this year.

8 Jun 2008

Connecticut lawmaker asks Gov. Rell to delay implementation of Charter Oak health plan

Connecticut House Majority Leader Christopher Donovan (D) on Tuesday asked Gov. Jodie Rell (R) to delay implementing a new health plan for uninsured adults because of concerns that it could disrupt care for children in low-income families, the Hartford Courant reports.

8 Jun 2008

Walgreen agrees to pay $35 million to settle allegations of improper medication switches for Medicaid beneficiaries

Walgreen has agreed to pay $35 million to settle allegations that the company improperly switched the form of generic medications prescribed to Medicaid beneficiaries to receive higher reimbursements from the program, the Hartford Courant reports (Levick, Hartford Courant, 6/5).

8 Jun 2008

Colorado Gov. Ritter signs 11 health care bills to increase access, expand coverage

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) on Tuesday signed into law 11 health care bills, including measures to expand coverage requirements and increase children's access to care, the AP/Denver Post reports.

8 Jun 2008

South Los Angeles residents face difficulties receiving medical care for variety of reasons

A shortage of primary care physicians and low Medi-Cal reimbursement rates have made South Los Angeles "one of the most difficult places in the nation to both receive and give medical care," the New York Times reports.

8 Jun 2008

Senate approves $3.1 trillion FY 2009 budget resolution without proposed reductions in Medicare, Medicaid spending

The Senate on Wednesday voted 48-45 to approve a $3.1 trillion fiscal year 2009 budget resolution (S Con Res 70), which includes large increases in funds for domestic programs and excludes reductions in funds for Medicare and Medicaid proposed by President Bush, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

8 Jun 2008

Majority of U.S. House supports repeal of Medicare therapy caps

With about one month to go before the current exceptions process for clinically based care above the Medicare therapy caps expires, a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives has endorsed legislation to repeal the arbitrary financial limit on therapy benefits.

5 Jun 2008

Walgreens to pay $35 million to settle Medicaid prescription drug fraud allegations

Walgreen Co. of Deerfield, Ill., has agreed to pay $35 million to settle claims that from 2001 to 2005, it improperly switched patients to different versions of the prescriptions drugs Ranitidine, Fluoxetine and Eldepryl in order to increase its reimbursement from Medicaid, the Justice Department announced today.

4 Jun 2008

Senate Democrats to move forward with bill that would halt 10.6% Medicare physician payment cut despite veto threat

Despite a veto threat from the White House, Senate Democrats plan to move forward in the next two weeks with a bill (S 1951) that would reduce payments to Medicare Advantage plans to offset delaying a 10.6% cut to Medicare physicians' payments, CQ Today reports.

2 Jun 2008

Study identifies most costly adverse events in children's hospitals

A large study of health records from 38 American children's hospitals has measured adverse events that most increase length of stay and overall cost. The researchers say their findings provide useful targets for hospital programs aimed at preventing harm to young patients.

2 Jun 2008

13.7 million young adults in the United States lack health insurance coverage

The number of uninsured young adults in the United States rose to 13.7 million in 2006-an increase from 13.3 million in 2005-making the 19-to-29 age group one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the population without health insurance. According to a newly updated report from The Commonwealth Fund, 38 percent of high school graduates who do not attend college and 34 percent of college graduates will spend some time uninsured in the year after graduation.

1 Jun 2008

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

Medicaid News and Research

Few community health centers receive reimbursement for providing language services, report indicates

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report rounds up health news from the campaign trail

Newspapers highlight health care, economic proposals of Presidential candidates Obama, McCain

Hawaii physicians, hospitals urge Gov. Lingle to release Medicaid physician payment funds

Coalition calls for end of redesigned Medicaid program in West Virginia

Utah Medicaid program to launch initiative to reduce unnecessary ED visits

Congressional Democrats move to impose new limits on specialty hospitals

Louisiana's Charity Hospitals need $35 million to continue services at current levels

Kansas Health Institute News Service examines prospects for expanding health coverage in state

Connecticut lawmaker asks Gov. Rell to delay implementation of Charter Oak health plan

Walgreen agrees to pay $35 million to settle allegations of improper medication switches for Medicaid beneficiaries

Colorado Gov. Ritter signs 11 health care bills to increase access, expand coverage

South Los Angeles residents face difficulties receiving medical care for variety of reasons

Senate approves $3.1 trillion FY 2009 budget resolution without proposed reductions in Medicare, Medicaid spending

Majority of U.S. House supports repeal of Medicare therapy caps

Walgreens to pay $35 million to settle Medicaid prescription drug fraud allegations

Senate Democrats to move forward with bill that would halt 10.6% Medicare physician payment cut despite veto threat

Study identifies most costly adverse events in children's hospitals

13.7 million young adults in the United States lack health insurance coverage

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

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

Latest News