Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Medicare, Medicaid Will Pay COVID Vaccine Costs, CMS Announces
The Hill: Medicare, Medicaid Will Cover Costs Of Future COVID-19 Vaccine Under New Policy
Medicare will cover any potential coronavirus vaccine for free, under a new Trump administration policy officially announced Wednesday. The new rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) means any vaccine that receives Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization will be covered under Medicare as a preventive vaccine at no cost to beneficiaries, which is a change from current policy. (Weixel, 10/28)
Modern Healthcare: Medicare Will Cover COVID-19 Vaccines At No Out-Of-Pocket Cost
The interim final rule also implements parts of the CARES Act "to ensure swift coverage of a COVID-19 vaccine by most private health insurance plans without cost-sharing from both in and out-of-network providers during the course of the public health emergency," CMS said in a statement. Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program beneficiaries can also receive cost-free vaccines. The Provider Relief Fund will pay vaccine administration costs for the uninsured. (Brady, 10/28)
The Wall Street Journal: Trump Administration Releases Plan To Ensure Coronavirus Vaccines Are Free
In addition, the administration will require all providers of Covid-19 tests to post their cash prices for the tests online, and failure to do so could result in fines of up to $300 a day. Federal law requires private insurers, Medicare and Medicaid to cover tests—but doesn’t guarantee people without insurance get no-cost tests. The fines aim to ensure there is price disclosure around any possible out-of-pocket costs for tests. Insurers also use the cash price when determining reimbursement. (Armour, 10/28)
In other Medicaid and Medicare news —
KHN: The Trump Medicaid Record: Big Goals, Yet Few Successes
President Donald Trump entered office seeking a massive overhaul of the Medicaid program, which had just experienced the biggest growth spurt in its 50-year history. His administration supported repealing the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, which has added millions of adults to the federal-state health program for lower-income Americans. He also wanted states to require certain enrollees to work. He sought to discontinue the open-ended federal funding that keeps pace with rising Medicaid enrollment and costs. He has achieved none of these ambitious goals. (Galewitz, 10/29)
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Ohio Medicaid Seeks Company To Oversee Treatment Of Children With Complex Mental Health Issues
Ohio Medicaid on Wednesday announced it is seeking applications until Dec. 16 from insurers and other managed care organizations to oversee and coordinate the specialized treatment of these children in a new program called OhioRISE. One managed care company will likely win the contract, which Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio Medicaid and other state officials designed with the aim of better coordinating children’s care among different health care providers, government agencies and health care systems – for example, if a child has a juvenile court case, is in special education and receives mental health treatment. The value of the contract will be announced later. Ohio RISE also aims to reduce the frequency of parents having to relinquish custody as well as the number of children who are sent out of state for help. (Hancock, 10/28)
South Bend Tribune: Feds Extend Indiana's Medicaid Expansion Alternative For 10 Years
Indiana has received federal approval to continue its Healthy Indiana Plan for another decade, making Indiana the first state to receive a 10-year extension for its Medicaid expansion alternative. The extension comes as more Hoosiers than ever are enrolled in the health coverage plan. More than 572,000 Indiana low-income residents receive their health insurance through the plan, about 100,000 more than at this time last year, officials for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration said. Typically states receive only a two- or three-year extension of their Medicaid alternatives. (Rudavsky, 10/27)
