Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
N.C. Medicaid Expansion Bill Seeks To Lend A Hand To 'Working Adults'
North Carolina Health News: Republican Carolina Care Proposal Could Be Vehicle For Medicaid Expansion
It’s people like [farmer Alex] Hitt who are being targeted in a bill that would offer Medicaid coverage to people who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid and too little to qualify for insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. ... The bill, called Carolina Cares, would expand the state’s Medicaid program, although sponsors prefer to say the program would provide insurance options for low income workers. But Medicaid expansion it is, in a manner similar to how the state of Indiana expanded the program, requiring beneficiaries to work, and asking them to pay a small premium, two percent of household income. The program would be targeted to people earning less than 133 percent of the federal poverty level. (Hoban, 4/11)
Nashville Tennessean: Troopers Make Arrests During Medicaid Expansion Sit-In At Gov. Haslam's Office
Tennessee State Troopers arrested at least two of the eleven demonstrators who called for the expansion of the state’s Medicaid program during a sit-in Tuesday in the governor’s office. The demonstrators, who are members of Moral Movement Tennessee, walked into Gov. Bill Haslam’s office at the State Capitol on Tuesday afternoon, carrying palms and posters that read “Expand Medicaid” and “We Stand for the Least of These.” The group, which included clergy as well as those who said they are personally affected by a lack of health insurance, want Haslam to call a special legislative session on the expansion of the state’s Medicaid program. (Meyer, 4/11)
Hartford (Conn.) Courant: Medicaid Offers Birth Control Right After Delivery
Low-income women in Connecticut who have just given birth and know they don't want to get pregnant again anytime soon are now offered a long-acting birth control option postpartum. Medical providers say the policy by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies, as well as lead to better maternal health outcomes by ensuring pregnancies are spaced a healthy length of time apart. (Rosner, 4/11)
Earlier KHN coverage: Feds Urge State Medicaid Programs To Encourage Long-Acting Contraceptives
KFOR TV (Oklahoma City): Drastic Cuts Could Be Coming For Medicaid Patients In Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority is warning, if their state appropriation is cut for fiscal year 2018, many programs and benefits for Medicaid patients could be eliminated. Some of the programs and benefits being considered are pharmacy, behavioral health, durable medical equipment, the breast and cervical cancer treatment program, the waiver-funded Medically Fragile program and Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, private duty nursing services, adult organ transplants, dialysis, hospice services, physical and occupational therapy, and speech, hearing and language disorder services. (Stewart, 4/11)
