Lawmakers Want States That Recently Expanded Medicaid To Get Same Federal Funding As Ones Who Did So Earlier
From 2014 to 2016, the federal government picked up the full cost of a state's Medicaid expansion. After 2016, the contribution started to decline. But a state that expanded Medicaid after 2014 doesn't get the same matching rate. A proposed bill would change that. Medicaid news comes out of Texas, New Hampshire and Georgia, as well.
Modern Healthcare:
Senate Bill Wants To Sweeten Deal For States To Expand Medicaid
A trio of Democratic senators introduced a bill on Wednesday that would give states that recently expanded Medicaid the same federal funding as those that previously expanded. The legislation from Democratic Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia and Doug Jones of Alabama comes as more red states are considering expansion. (King, 2/25)
Houston Chronicle:
In Medicaid Fraud Case, Record $236M Settlement Still May Be A Loser For Texas
When Attorney General Ken Paxton announced last week he had settled a giant Medicaid fraud case on behalf of Texas, he trumpeted how much money the state would collect from Xerox. ...Yet it might not turn out to be as impressive a haul as it first seemed - in fact, the state could end up losing money.Steep legal fees and money Texas taxpayers had to repay to the federal government lopped a huge chunk of the award off the top. Now, a handful of whistleblowers have filed a legal claim saying they are due a finder’s fee for helping Texas regulators make the case. (Dexheimer, 2/27)
New Hampshire Public Radio:
N.H. Medicaid Work Requirement Underway But Debate Continues
New Hampshire has joined a handful of states that mandate some Medicaid recipients to engage in certain activities: for example, a job, school, or community services. But recent federal changes tightening certain aspects of the program, as well as proposed legislation, have renewed debate over the Granite state's approach. (2/27)
Gainesville Times:
Northeast Georgia Health System Supports Ga. Senate Medicaid Bill
The Northeast Georgia Health System is supporting a Georgia Senate bill passed on Tuesday that would seek federal waivers to expand Medicaid coverage to more low-income residents. “Northeast Georgia Health System supports the efforts of Gov. Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly to pass Medicaid waiver legislation that will help cover health care services for more of our uninsured and indigent patients,” Deb Bailey, executive director of governmental affairs at NGHS, told The Times in a statement. (Silavent, 2/27)
