Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Democratic Lawmakers In Iowa Call Payment Delays By Private Medicaid Firms 'Shocking'
The Des Moines Register: Pay Medicaid Bills Quickly, Legislators Tell Managers
Legislators warned private Medicaid managers Tuesday that if they don't improve how they pay bills from service providers, some of those agencies could soon close their doors. “We’ve got to get to it. We cannot leave people behind here. … It’s going to be make or break for our state,” Sen. Liz Mathis told executives of the three national companies that took control of the state’s $4 billion Medicaid program in April. (Leys, 7/26)
Iowa Public Radio: Problems With Medicaid Privatization Called "Shocking"
Democrats in the Iowa Senate held a hearing on problems with Iowa’s new privately managed Medicaid program, which provides health care for the poor and disabled. The issues include delayed payments for providers, and claims denied for services. Hospitals and others say they’re borrowing money to cover expenses while they wait for reimbursement. (Russell, 7/26)
Kansas Health Institute: Federal Officials Hear KanCare Concerns As Renewal Looms
A pair of federal officials heard a litany of concerns from KanCare providers and clients Tuesday in Salina as the state prepares to apply for renewal of the managed care Medicaid program. James G. Scott, associate regional administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Megan Buck, the agency’s program services branch manager, heard about problems with applying for Medicaid, cuts to services and provider reimbursements, and difficulties getting help from the state during the forum at the Bicentennial Center. (Marso, 7/26)
California Healthline: Two Insurance Giants Planning To Jump Into California’s Medicaid Market
Two of the nation’s largest insurers are reaching out to doctors as they prepare to offer health coverage to low-income residents in California’s Medicaid program. UnitedHealth and Aetna plan to join Medi-Cal managed care in San Diego and Sacramento counties beginning next year, pending final state approval. (Gorman, 7/26)
The Associated Press: Texas Attorney General Took Gift While Investigating Company
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is under indictment on felony charges of duping investors in a tech startup, accepted $100,000 for his criminal defense from the head of a medical imaging provider while his office investigated the company for Medicaid fraud. Dallas-based Preferred Imaging LLC settled a $3.5 million whistleblower lawsuit in a case handled by the U.S. Justice Department and Paxton’s Texas Civil Medicaid Fraud Division, the head of which co-signed the agreement in June. (Weber, 7/26)
