After Failed Attempts To Expand Medicaid, Tennessee Weighing Different Options
The two-pronged plan, which grew out of legislative task force meetings around the state, would first expand coverage to low-income residents with mental health issues and to veterans. Also in the news, Medicaid expansion proves more popular than expected in Ohio and Montana.
The Tennessean:
How Is New TN Medicaid Expansion Plan Different?
The newest plan, the product of House Speaker Beth Harwell’s 3-Star Healthy Task Force, prioritizes veterans and those with mental health needs. However, in order to be enacted, it needs both federal approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and state approval from the legislature. (Tolbert, 7/17)
The Columbus DIspatch:
Medicaid Expansion Covers Nearly 500,000 Ohioans For Mental Health, Drug Treatment
Nearly 500,000 low-income Ohio adults, most of them uninsured, received mental health and addiction services under the state’s hard-fought Medicaid expansion. About 100,000 of the new beneficiaries have severe mental illnesses, including psychosis, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. And many of the rest are battling drug addiction. (Candisky and Johnson, 7/17)
Kaiser Health News:
Montana Medicaid Expansion By-The-Numbers
Backers of Montana’s seven-month-old Medicaid expansion say they’re pleased with the first set of financial data released this week. State figures say enrollment as of July is nearly double initial projections, at 47,399 of the 25,000 who were expected to enroll by now. And there’s still room to grow: 59,000 Montanans are estimated to be eligible for Medicaid expansion, according to state officials. (Whitney, 7/18)
