Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Although Political Battles Are Over, N.C. Medicaid Transition Still Expected To Take Time
WRAL (Raleigh, N.C.): Changing Medicaid To Managed Care Could Take Years
Gov. Pat McCrory's signature on House Bill 372 wasn't the end of North Carolina's effort to change how the state's $14 billion Medicaid system works. While the political wrangling may be over for the moment, the real work of changing how poor and disabled North Carolinians get health care is just beginning. Administration officials are only in the nascent stages of building the division that will be responsible for crafting and running the new program. (Binker, 10/14)
Columbus Dispatch: Medicaid Cuts Worry Ohio Families
An injury at age 5 cost Jadon Wade his ability to talk or move his arms and legs, but not his infectious laugh. Jadon delights in “knock-knock” jokes. Now 12, he’s happiest swinging in a hammock alongside his grandmother and legal guardian, Nancy Richardson .... But if the Ohio Department of Medicaid follows through with its plan to stop funding 68 hours of nursing care for Jadon each week at home, Richardson fears that her grandson might have to move to an institution. (Sutherly, 10/26)
Twin Falls (Idaho) Times News/Idaho Falls Post Register: Idaho Falls Woman In 'Medicaid Gap' Died After Delaying Care
Jason and Jenny [Steinke] talked at length about her worsening asthma. Nearly a decade ago, the 36-year-old had been diagnosed with the condition that inflames and narrows the airways. The asthma flared up every so often, once requiring hospitalization, but hadn’t usually required much attention. Without insurance, Jenny sometimes obtained short-acting inhalers from a community health clinic. Other times, she bought them off friends who had extras. The inhalers usually helped. But over the summer months Jenny needed them more frequently. ... For the Steinkes, insurance coverage had always been out of reach. “It’s just not affordable,” Jason said. Their circumstances were not unique. “Several times a week I see people who have delayed medical care because they don’t have coverage, either Medicaid or insurance,” said Ken Krell, director of critical care at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. “They put off being seen until it’s really dire,” he said. “It’s a very common occurrence.” The results can be deadly. (Ramseth, 10/25)
