Georgia Governor Applies To Opt Out Of Obamacare Exchange
Gov. Brian Kemp (R) wants the Trump administration to let him block state residents from using the federal exchange set up under the Affordable Care Act and force Georgians to seek out their own commercial options instead. In other health law news: Texas medical professionals urge the governor to expand Medicaid; and Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) fails to offer up his promised ACA alternative.
Stateline:
Georgia Governor Wants Out Of Obamacare Health Exchange
Under a proposal from Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, Georgians seeking to purchase health insurance would no longer have the option of shopping for plans on one website as they can now on the Obamacare site Healthcare.gov. Instead, they would have to seek out commercial insurance plans on their own. In Kemp’s application to the Trump administration, the state says its proposal would insure 25,000 more Georgians and “create a competitive private insurance marketplace that provides Georgia’s residents with better access, improved customer service, and coverage options.” (Ollove, 9/2)
Houston Chronicle:
Texas Medical Association, Physicians Ask Again For Medicaid Expansion
The Texas Medical Association, along with 32 other organizations representing physicians, dentists and child welfare groups, called on Gov. Greg Abbott — again — to expand Medicaid to help fight the COVID-19 crisis. (Wu, 9/2)
Colorado Sun:
Cory Gardner Wants To Nix Obamacare, But A Replacement Remains Unclear
Cory Gardner doesn’t like Obamacare. ... But if Gardner and congressional Republicans have a better idea, they haven’t shared it. President Donald Trump has spoken of coming legislation, but part of the problem has been GOP infighting over how to move forward. That killed the party’s chance to unwind the Affordable Care Act in 2017, as they’d vowed to do for years, when Republicans took control of Congress and the White House. “We haven’t kept our promise,” Gardner said last year. (Paul, 9/2)
In other state Medicaid news —
Columbus Dispatch:
Ohio Medicaid Wants To Make Telehealth Service Expansion Permanent
The explosion of telehealth following the coronavirus outbreak may be here to stay. The Ohio Department of Medicaid announced on Tuesday that it is seeking to permanently expand telehealth options for the more than 3 million poor and disabled residents insured through the tax-funded program. (Candisky, 9/3)
CBS Miami:
Medicaid Audit Raises Questions About Controlled Substances
Florida’s Medicaid program paid $3.7 million for tens of thousands of prescriptions for controlled substances over a nearly two-year period for patients who had not recently been hospitalized or seen physicians and in one instance paid for prescriptions for 900 days of OxyContin, a new audit from the Florida auditor general shows. (9/2)
