Medicaid chief signals that state enrollments may start slowly

But Cindy Mann says that she is confident states will be ready by October to cover the new enrollees who will gain access to the safety net program. 

Modern Healthcare: Slow Start Predicted For Expanded Medicaid Enrollment
Officials hoping to enroll millions more beneficiaries into Medicaid programs this fall are signaling the possibility of a slow start. Ultimately, they hope to use some past success to overcome obstacles that have long left uncovered millions of Medicaid-eligible enrollees. Cindy Mann, Medicaid director for the CMS, said at a recent Washington ACO Summit that she is confident that states will be ready by October to enroll millions who will gain access to the safety net insurer under healthcare reform. ... But more time and work will be needed to improve the Medicaid enrollment process, Mann said at the gathering of health policy experts. Such problems would mean states won't be ready for "plan A" during the first year, but will instead rely on "plan B," she said (Daly, 6/18).

Meanwhile, in news from Ohio --

The Associated Press: Ohio Legislators Offer Two Bills To Change Medicaid
Proposed changes to the Medicaid program in Ohio are unlikely to clear the legislature before lawmakers break at the end of the month, the Republican leader of the House said Tuesday. Ohio legislators have been trying to find common ground on the federal-state health program for the poor and disabled people (Cano, 6/18).