Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Kentucky Governor Cuts Coverage For 460,000 As 'Unfortunate Consequence' To Work Requirements Ruling
The Associated Press: Kentucky Cuts Vision, Dental Care For Up To 460,000 People
Gov. Matt Bevin's administration cut dental and vision coverage for as many as 460,000 Kentuckians after his Medicaid overhaul plan was rejected in court. The state Cabinet for Health and Family Services called the cuts an "unfortunate consequence" of Friday's ruling by a federal judge. Democrats and advocates for the poor condemned the Republican governor's move as rash and possibly illegal. The cuts were announced during the weekend. (Schreiner, 7/2)
The Hill: Ky. Governor Cancels Medicaid Dental, Vision Benefits After Losing Work Requirement Ruling
Democrats denounced the move and said they did not think Bevin had the legal authority to cancel the benefits. “He said he wants to take dental and vision coverage away,” Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), said Monday at a press conference. “We don't think that's legal either.” Under Bevin’s Medicaid proposal, along with work requirements, enrollees would have had to earn dental and vision benefits through completing activities like taking classes or searching for a job. (Sullivan, 7/2)
Modern Healthcare: Questions Arise Over Kentucky's Medicaid Cuts Following Work Requirement Rejection
Critics say that announcement is misleading, and that beneficiaries will continue receiving the limited dental and vision benefits they've had all along. They say the move is part of Bevin's effort to push through his conservative changes to the state's Medicaid expansion by threatening to end it or roll it back if he doesn't get his way. A spokesman for the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services said the Bevin administration would cut those benefits in response to U.S. District Judge James Boasberg's ruling Friday invalidating the CMS' approval of Kentucky's Medicaid waiver establishing work requirements and imposing premiums on beneficiaries. (Meyer, 7/2)
Kaiser Health News: Despite U.S. Court’s Ruling, Medicaid Work Requirements Advance In Other States
The fallout from Friday’s federal court ruling that struck down the Medicaid work requirement in Kentucky was swift. The decision by Judge James Boasberg immediately blocked Kentucky from enacting the provision in Campbell County, which had been set to start Sunday and roll out statewide later this year. (Galewitz, 7/2)
And in Missouri —
St. Louis Post Dispatch: Missouri Hospitals Fear Fallout From Changes To Medicaid
Missouri is changing the terms for how health care providers are paid after caring for certain Medicaid recipients, a move some rural hospitals warn could lead to financial losses. If providers do not come in-network with the three insurance companies contracted by the state to provide coverage to certain Medicaid recipients, providers will be paid 10 percent less than they’re used to. The change went into effect Sunday. (Liss, 7/2)
