Montana Bucks GOP Opposition As House Gives Final OK To Medicaid Expansion Bill
The bill faces one more vote in the state Senate and is then expected to go to the governor. But a measure in Florida appears headed for a tough couple of weeks before the legislature. Also in the news, The Wall Street Journal examines the issue of how states recover assets from the estates of people who have been on Medicaid.
The Fiscal Times:
Medicaid Expansion Gains in Red States
So far, 28 states have expanded their Medicaid programs, while 22 states—mainly with Republican-controlled state legislatures, have opted out, citing cost as their primary reason for not expanding. Under the ACA, the federal government picks up the 100 percent of the cost of expansion for three years, then 90 percent thereafter. (Ehley, 4/10)
Politico:
Montana Lawmakers Endorse Medicaid Expansion
The Montana Legislature has backed expansion of the state’s Medicaid program under Obamacare, a startling turnaround after supporters’ repeated setbacks during the current session. The action provides the Obama administration a much needed boost given how efforts have foundered in other states such as Tennessee, Wyoming, Utah and Florida. ... The state Senate initially cleared expansion in a 28-21 vote on March 30 and now must take one last step — approving a minor House funding amendment that’s not seen as controversial — before the legislation can head to Gov. Steve Bullock’s desk next week. (Pradhan, 4/11)
Montana Public Radio:
Medicaid Expansion Passes House In Saturday Vote, Now Back To Senate
On Saturday the Montana House gave final approval to a bill expand Medicaid coverage to Montana's working poor on a 54-to-42 vote. ... Last Thursday, after it won preliminary approval there was a motion to re-refer the bill to the House Appropriations Committee. It was successfully challenged and blocked. It was re-offered Friday afternoon. A clearly angry Appropriations Chair Nancy Ballance charged a gentlemen’s agreement over the rules had been broken. "This duplicity in my opinion is unbecoming of a leader in this body and I believe that we can no longer trust the integrity in this body of the minority leader," Balance said. Audible groans could be heard on the House floor and most of the Democratic caucus immediately rose from their seats to signal their objection. (Yamanaka, 4/13)
Montana Standard:
On The Big Issues And The Rules This Legislature, Majority Rules — And It’S Not Always Pretty
When it came to passing Medicaid expansion in the Montana House last week, its opponents ended up on the losing side of bare-knuckled political power, which is seldom pretty. ... From the view of Republicans who lost the Medicaid-expansion battle, it’s easy to see why they feel rules were twisted or ignored for political expediency. But in the end, it came down to a simple principle exercised by the winners: majority rules. A coalition of all 41 House Democrats and a dozen or so Republicans support the Medicaid-expansion bill that came to the House — and decided to use that majority power to define the rules and pass the bill, which is likely on its way to Gov. Steve Bullock’s desk for his signature. (Dennison, 4/12)
Tampa Bay Times:
Medicaid Expansion Plans Face Long Odds In Final Weeks Of Session
The state Senate is advancing a plan that would let Florida use federal Medicaid expansion money to subsidize a new state-run marketplace for private insurance. It would be available to low-income Floridians who work and pay small monthly premiums. The proposal has the support of influential business organizations, hospitals and grass roots consumer advocacy groups. But for both political and logistical reasons, it is a long shot in the final weeks of Florida's legislative session. (McGrory, 4/11)
Orlando Sentinel:
Feud Between State Senate, Gov. Scott Boils Over
Gov. Rick Scott headed for California on Sunday for a two-day mission to lure jobs to Florida, leaving behind a seemingly intractable budget battle and a growing rift between his administration and the Florida Senate. The feud between Scott and the Senate blew out into the open last week, with Scott blaming senators for sabotaging his Medicaid negotiations with the federal government, and senators publicly scolding his agency heads. The main source of the disagreement is over Medicaid. (Rohrer, 4/12)
The Wall Street Journal:
New Wrinkle For Health Law
Millions of people have gained health coverage through Medicaid since states began expanding the program under the Affordable Care Act. That also means more Americans may find themselves caught in a little-known law that lets states go after their assets after they die. For more than 20 years, federal law has allowed states to recover almost all Medicaid costs if recipients are 55 or older when they die. This now applies to many of the 11 million people who joined Medicaid since the health law’s expansion of the state-federal insurance program. (Armour, 4/12)
Also in Medicaid news, Missouri officials weigh how to deal with higher drug costs.
The Associated Press:
Specialty, Generic Drugs Drive Medicaid Costs Up
The high cost of a drug used to treat Medicaid patients with hepatitis C drew scrutiny from lawmakers earlier this year, but other drugs are also driving up the state's costs and likely will continue to do so for several years, government data reveals. From fiscal year 2010 through 2014, drug costs for Missouri's Medicaid program rose 33 percent, to $1.16 billion. Meanwhile, the number of claims fell slightly, by less than one-tenth of one percent, according to Missouri Department of Social Services data provided to The Associated Press. (French, 4/11)
