Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Key Florida Lawmaker Says State, Federal Cuts To Medicaid Will Reach $650 Million
Tampa Bay Times: Florida Medicaid Cuts Will Hit $650 Million, Senate Chair Says
As part of a broad budget deal, House and Senate leaders have agreed to roughly $650 million in cuts to hospital payments through Medicaid. Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, the Senate's health care budget chairwoman, confirmed that the state would cut its share of Medicaid payments by $250 million in the upcoming budget, which reduces federal matching dollars by more than $400 million. That's more than was proposed by either the House or Senate in their original budgets. (Auslen, 4/27)
Madison (Wis.) Capital Times: Madison Disability Advocates Speak Out Against Proposed Medicaid Changes
[Anna] Moffit and other disability advocates in Madison say that restructuring Medicaid could lead to drastic cuts to crucial programs that help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities thrive and contribute to their communities. ... The way Medicaid is currently set up, the federal government pays 60 percent of Wisconsin’s Medicaid costs. There’s no limit in this system; the more the state spends, the more the federal government supplements that spending. But the proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA) would put a cap on federal funds. (Speckhard, 4/27)
Wisconsin State Journal: Medicaid, Health Care System Confronting High Cost Of Specialty Drugs
Spending on specialty drugs for cancer, hepatitis and other conditions in Wisconsin’s Medicaid program is up 40 percent the past four years, a trend that could continue as more specialty drugs are approved, a state administrator said Thursday. Medicaid spending on prescription drugs overall is relatively flat, largely because drug companies are required to give Medicaid programs rebates, said Rachel Currans-Henry, director of Medicaid benefits management for the state Department of Health Services. But the rebates could be in jeopardy under Medicaid block grants being considered as part of federal health care reform, Currans-Henry said. (Wahlberg, 4/27)
Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger: Watchdog: Miss. Made $21M Medicaid Mistake, Owes Refund
The state Division of Medicaid could face an unwelcome expenditure, following a federal audit’s findings that the agency, in error, claimed $21.2 million in unallowable reimbursements from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over a three-year period. The report released by the Office of Inspector General last month recommends the state refund that amount to the federal government. (Harris, 4/27)
Minnesota Public Radio: Medica Slashes Jobs As It Quits Most Medicaid Business
Health insurer Medica is cutting about 110 jobs and not filling about 140 more vacant positions because of its decision to get out of Minnesota's Medicaid program serving children and families, the company announced Thursday. Late last year, Medica said it would no longer manage the care for more than 300,000 MinnesotaCare and other Medicaid customers effective May 1. (Zdechlik, 4/27)
