Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Medicaid Rolls Grow By 8.5 Million People During Pandemic
Stateline: Medicaid Enrollment Spikes During Pandemic
In the 12 months ending in March 2021, nearly 8.5 million more Americans enrolled in Medicaid, the federal-state health program for low-income people, according to a new analysis by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Nationwide, that’s a 17.7% increase since February 2020, the month before the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States. Medicaid enrollment continues to rise, according to the analysis, which includes data from 36 states as of March 2021. The biggest annual increases were in Utah (37%) and Nebraska (31%), where expanded Medicaid was offered to low-income adults for the first time in 2020. (Vestal, 5/26)
Houston Chronicle: Texas Senate Quashes Medicaid Extension For Kids, New Moms
The Texas Senate failed to vote Wednesday on legislation that would increase Medicaid access for new moms and low-income children, effectively quashing both bills. The measures, which have broad bipartisan support, had easily passed the House and was sponsored in the GOP-led Senate by a Republican. The upper chamber had until midnight to act if they were to remain viable this session. This is the second straight legislative cycle that the expansions have failed to make it through the legislative process, despite broad support. Both received a boost this year from Republican leadership in the House, which included the bills in a priority package of mostly bipartisan health care reforms. (Blackman, 5/26)
AP: Georgia Senators: Expand Health Coverage Even If States Balk
With a dozen states rejecting an offer of extra federal money if they expend Medicaid, Georgia’s two Democratic U.S. senators are now pushing for a federal workaround. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock on Wednesday wrote a letter saying they want the federal government to find a way to provide health insurance coverage to people in Georgia and 11 other states that haven’t agreed to expand the Medicaid program. (Amy, 5/26)
Health News Florida: Kidder Leaving Post As Florida Medicaid Director
Florida Medicaid director Beth Kidder has submitted her resignation from the state Agency for Health Care Administration and taken a job with a consulting firm that specializes in financing and evaluation of publicly funded health care programs. Kidder’s resignation as a deputy secretary at the agency is effective at the end of the month. Tom Wallace, assistant deputy secretary of Medicaid finance and analytics, has been named the new Medicaid director. (5/26)
