Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Iowa Lawmaker Introduces Medicaid Work Requirement Bill
Des Moines Register: Medicaid Work Requirements Would Be Added Under Iowa Bill
In order to qualify for Medicaid health insurance, “able-bodied” Iowans would have to work at a job or attend school or job training under a bill introduced recently in the Legislature. Under the bill, Iowa would join several other states in seeking federal permission to implement such work requirements on Medicaid, which is jointly financed and run by federal and state governments. (Leys, 2/7)
In other Medicaid news —
The Associated Press: New Mexico Studies Expanding Medicaid With Buy-In Coverage
New Mexico will study opportunities to provide Medicaid coverage through a fee to people who earn too much to qualify for the health care program for the poor, under an initiative approved by the state Legislature on Wednesday. The Democrat-led state Senate voted 33-8 on Wednesday to commission a year-long study of possibilities for expanding health care coverage by allowing more people to buy into Medicaid. (Lee, 2/7)
Tampa Bay Times: Senate Poised To Approve Budget Redistributing State Medicaid Funding
Safety net hospitals in Florida could see their state Medicaid payments decrease by $170 million under a proposal in the budget the state Senate is poised to approve Thursday. The proposal, which would target about $318 million in payments that currently go to 28 hospitals with a higher percentage of Medicaid patients, would funnel those funds into the base rates paid to all hospitals instead. (Koh, 2/7)
