Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Kentucky Governor's Plan To Reshape Medicaid Expansion Debated At Forum
Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal: Bevin Medicaid Plan Debated At Forum
Gov. Matt Bevin's plan to reshape the state's Medicaid program was debated in Louisville on Wednesday, with top officials from his administration defending it and health advocates arguing against his proposal submitted last week to the federal government for approval. Vickie Yates Brown Glisson, Bevin's secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said the changes are essential to control costs of the federal-state health plan that covers more than 1.3 million Kentuckians .... But Jason Bailey, executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, argued that the program expanded under the federal Affordable Care Act to cover more low-income Kentuckians is just what the state needs to provide much-needed health coverage for many people in low-wage jobs that don't include it. (Yetter, 9/15)
Texas Tribune: Texas Budget Writers Hear Concerns Over Medicaid Therapy Cuts
Texas lawmakers on Thursday revisited the fate of a $150 million cut in state funding to Medicaid payments for disabled children’s therapy made in 2015 — though the outcome of that cut remains uncertain as a legal battle over its legitimacy remains before the Texas Supreme Court.Republican lawmakers on the Senate Finance Committee, led by chair Sen. Jane Nelson, a Flower Mound Republican, reiterated their belief at Thursday’s hearing that the state needs to cut back on health care spending. But those lawmakers reassured concerned parents they wouldn’t cut medically necessary services. (Walters, 9/15)
Dallas Morning News: Cuts To Disabled Texas Children's Therapy Providers Take Hold Despite Court Action, Advocates Say
Despite appearances that court decisions have stopped them, sweeping budget cuts to state-funded therapies for tens of thousands of disabled children are taking place anyway, Democratic lawmakers and service providers complained Thursday. The cuts are being administered through managed care organizations that serve about half of Texas children on Medicaid, said Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso. At a Capitol news conference, Rodriguez said the managed care insurers cut Medicaid payments for children's outpatient therapy by 10 percent to 30 percent. (Garrett, 9/15)
