After Court Setback, CMS To Open Up New Public Comment Period On Kentucky’s Medicaid Work Requirements
By doing so, CMS aims to show that it is taking the concerns of the court into consideration.
Politico:
CMS Plots Path Forward For Kentucky Work Requirements After Court Setback
The Trump administration is redoubling efforts to allow Kentucky to impose controversial Medicaid work requirements after a federal court halted its attempt to overhaul the safety-net program three weeks ago. CMS plans to announce that it will open a new 30-day federal comment period on the Kentucky plan — allowing the administration to potentially show it's addressing the court's concerns, POLITICO first reported on Wednesday. An agency spokesperson subsequently confirmed that the agency would again seek feedback “to better inform any future decision on the demonstration that was remanded back to the department for further review.” (Diamond and Pradhan, 7/18)
The Hill:
Trump Officials Take New Step Forward On Kentucky Medicaid Work Requirements
Work requirements for Medicaid are a top priority of the Trump administration, as well as CMS Administrator Seema Verma, and the move shows that officials are trying to find a way forward, rather than backing down in the face of the judge’s ruling. (Sullivan, 7/18)
The Washington Post:
Trump Administration To Give Kentucky Medicaid Work Requirement A Second Chance
The move by federal health officials comes nearly three weeks after Judge James E. Boasberg, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, blocked Kentucky’s plan as it was about to become the nation’s first to require many low-income residents who want Medicaid to work or perform other types of “community engagement,” such as job-training or volunteering. The court case and Kentucky’s timing have placed the state at the forefront of an ideological war over the future of Medicaid, a vast public health-insurance program that is a main outgrowth of the War on Poverty of the 1960s and now a target for conservatives eager to shrink the government’s social safety net. (Goldstein, 7/18)
In other Medicaid news —
Kansas City Star:
Missouri Legislators Say DSS Bungled Medicaid Change
Missouri legislators criticized the Department of Social Services’ implementation of a controversial Medicaid amendment during a hearing this week, with one key lawmaker saying the agency “bungled” the roll-out. The amendment cut by 10 percent some reimbursements to hospitals that don’t participate in the state’s three privatized Medicaid managed care plans. (Marso, 7/18)
The CT Mirror:
Medicaid Transportation Contractor Still Stuck On The Basic Problems
More than two dozen healthcare providers and advocates attended a meeting Wednesday to voice what are now familiar complaints against Veyo, a Total Transit Company contracted since January to provide transportation for Medicaid patients to and from appointments across the state of Connecticut. ... Despite the many examples of problems cited by advocates and MAPOC committee members, Veyo reported that out of the more than 364,000 trips they provided in May, there were only 478 complaints filed via email, phone call or letter. (Werth, 7/18)
Cleveland Plain Dealer:
Ohio Medicaid's Mental, Addiction Benefits Achieve Equality With Physical Care: State Report
According to a recent report, the Ohio Department of Medicaid is now complying with a federal law that requires equality - technically called "parity" in the health care world - between benefits for mental and physical health care. Medicaid is a program funded by the state and federal government for people with medical needs or people who are low-income. (Hancock, 7/18)