Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Central Illinois Facing Adequacy 'Crisis' As Hospitals Reject Medicaid Managed Care Plans
Modern Healthcare: Central Illinois Facing Medicaid Network Adequacy 'Crisis'
Hospitals in central Illinois are rejecting managed Medicaid plans at such a troubling rate that lawmakers are calling it a “crisis.” Decatur Memorial Hospital, Memorial Hospital System and Hospital Sisters Health System have all announced plans to cut ties with Molina Healthcare of Illinois over the last few months. The decision puts tens of thousands of patients in central Illinois in a tough position as the region's other managed care plan, Health Alliance, exited the market last year. (Dickson, 2/14)
Denver Post: Rising Medicaid Costs Fuel Much Of Colorado Legislature’s $105 Million Spending Increase
Colorado lawmakers are poised to approve an additional $105 million in spending for the current year, even as a budget shortfall looms. House lawmakers will begin considering a package of 18 supplemental budget bills this week as part of an annual mid-year spending adjustment to the $25.8 billion budget approved in 2016. The Senate approved the measures last week with little opposition. (Frank, 2/14)
And one Medicaid company is facing a storm of criticism over building plans --
St. Louis Post Dispatch: Clayton Rejects Centene Petition As Unconstitutional
A citizen-led initiative petition seeking to give residents a vote on large development projects is unconstitutional, violates the Clayton city charter and is “totally unworkable,” city officials said Tuesday night. ...The effort was the latest to stymie Medicaid managed care company Centene’s recently approved campus expansion. It would require public votes before permits were issued to buildings in excess of 200 feet or 10 stories in height or 200,000 square feet of space. The Clayton-based health care company plans to transform a corner of downtown with a $772 million complex of office towers, a parking garage, retail space, apartments and theater. Centene says it will add 2,000 people to its existing Clayton workforce of about 1,000 employees. (Barker, 2/14)
