Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Different States, Different Takes On The Health Care Safety Net
Boston Globe: No Easy Fixes For MassHealth Insurers
Can private insurers cover Medicaid patients without going broke? That’s the pressing question raised by last week’s news that Neighborhood Health Plan will stop enrolling Medicaid customers until it can sort out its money-losing contracts with hospitals and other providers. The answer is far from clear. (Dayal McCluskey, 10/20)
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Fix To Ohio's Medicaid Managed-Care Sales Tax Must Hold Counties, Transit Systems Harmless
A federally required fix in the way Medicaid managed-care companies are taxed could hit Ohio and Greater Cleveland particularly hard if state law isn't adjusted wisely to accord with the new federal mandate. The mandate requires affected states either to broaden or eliminate the Medicaid managed-care sales tax. (10/30)
The Wichita Eagle: Kansas Safety Net For Disabled Is Fraying, Not Strong
I appreciate the effort by Tim Keck, acting secretary of the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, to put a positive spin on the state’s attempt to improve the lives of Kansans with disabilities, but his recent commentary was inaccurate (“Safety net for disabled strong and improving,” Oct. 24 Opinion). The safety net for Kansans with disabilities is not strong. It is actually deteriorating to the point where drastic action will be required if changes are not made. (Tim Cunningham, 10/31)
