Mass. Governor Suggests Changes To State’s Medicaid Program, Angering Advocates
Outlets report on Medicaid news from Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Illinois and Iowa.
Boston Globe:
Baker Health Proposals Would Hurt Poor, Advocates Say
Governor Charlie Baker has been a vocal opponent of Republican legislation in Congress that would sharply curtail Medicaid funding, cuts that would hit the state’s poor, disabled, and elderly residents. But a lengthy list of proposals unveiled by the Baker administration last week includes significant changes to the state Medicaid program, known as MassHealth, that many advocates say would also hurt low-income working parents. (Dayal McCluskey, 6/30)
The Washington Post:
Health Care Companies Feud Over Lucrative Contract To Manage D.C. Medicaid Patients
MedStar is set to lose a lucrative contract to manage care for Medicaid beneficiaries in the District, prompting a lobbying blitz in city hall and a bid protest to keep its business. The D.C. Department of Health Care Finance in May announced plans to select three companies for a five-year managed care contract, renewing AmeriHealth Caritas and Trusted Health Plan but replacing MedStar with Amerigroup, one of the nation’s largest managers for patients on government health plans. (Nirappil, 6/30)
The Chicago Sun-Times:
Federal Judge Orders State To Pay $586 Million Per Month For Medicaid
As the deadline to pass a budget before another credit downgrade approached, a federal judge ordered the State of Illinois to make more than $500 million each month in Medicaid payments. (Charles, 6/30)
The Des Moines Register:
Hundreds Of Millions Of Taxpayer Dollars On The Table In Closed-Door Medicaid Haggling
The three companies running Iowa’s $4 billion Medicaid program contend they need millions more dollars from taxpayers, starting this month — but there’s been no public hint of how much more money the state will have to fork over. (Leys, 7/3)
