Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Medicaid Work Mandate Offers Conservative Bent That May Push Red States Toward Expansion
The Washington Post: How Trump May End Up Expanding Medicaid, Whether He Means To Or Not
Republican lawmakers in a half-dozen states are launching fresh efforts to expand Medicaid, the nation’s health insurance program for the poor, as party holdouts who had blocked the expansion say they’re now open to it because of Trump administration guidelines allowing states to impose new requirements that program recipients work to get benefits. In Utah, a Republican legislator working with the GOP governor says he hopes to pass a Medicaid expansion plan with work requirements within the year. In Idaho, a conservative lawmaker who steadfastly opposed Medicaid expansion in the past says the new requirements make him more open to the idea. And in Wyoming, a Republican senator who previously opposed expansion — a key part of President Barack Obama’s health-care law — says he’s ready to take another look at fellow Republicans’ expansion efforts in his state. (Stein, 1/28)
CBS News: Work Requirements Could Punish Medicaid Recipients
Opening the door to work requirements for Medicaid recipients is being touted by the Trump administration as "making a positive and lasting difference" in poor Americans' health. But a new study about work requirements for Kansas welfare recipients is raising questions about the cost, impact and efficacy of such stipulations. A free-market think tank called the Foundation for Government Accountability has praised Kansas' welfare reform efforts as helping "struggling families get back on their feet," but another recent study from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities calls those conclusions "fundamentally flawed." (Picchi, 1/29)
Oregon Public Broadcasting: Study: Oregon's Medicaid Experiment Is Working
In 2012, the federal government gave Oregon almost $2 billion to improve Medicaid. The state developed 16 coordinated care organizations to oversee the quality of care and reduce costs. The chairman of the Oregon Health Policy Board, Zeke Smith, said a new independent study — required by the federal government — shows Oregon spent the money wisely. (Foden-Vencil, 1/29)
