Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Credit Agency Pokes Texas For Failing To Budget Sufficiently For Medicaid Growth
Houston Chronicle: Texas' Skimpy Medicaid Funding Has Wall Street Worried
Texas' budget-writing season is over, and while the state remains in decent fiscal health, a ratings agency on Monday sounded notes of caution over the Legislature's decision to cut funding for Medicaid, the federally-supported healthcare program for the poor and disabled. S&P Global Ratings saw no reason to downgrade Texas' AAA rating, the highest issued by the agency. Analysts, however, criticized the Legislature's decision to cut funds by $1.9 billion, despite projections that the state will add recipients in the coming years. (DePillis, 6/19)
Reuters: Illinois Medicaid Payment Boost Talks To Continue: Attorney
Talks over boosting Illinois' lagging payments to Medicaid providers amid the state's budget impasse will continue past a Tuesday deadline initially set by a federal judge, an attorney said on Monday. Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Joan Lefkow directed both sides to file motions on Tuesday if they failed to reach a negotiated solution that would put Illinois in substantial compliance with federal consent decrees on Medicaid, the healthcare program for the poor and disabled. (Pierog, 6/19)
Meanwhile, in a new report on health spending --
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia Health Spending Among Lowest In U.S.
Spending on health care in Georgia remains below the national average, even though it has increased at a relatively fast clip, according to a new report in HealthAffairs. According to the report, Georgia spent $10,429 per Medicare enrollee, $5,199 per Medicaid enrollee, and $4,406 per enrollee in personal health insurance. (Hart, 6/19)
