Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Oklahoma Rejects Paying For Medicaid With Tobacco Settlement Funds
The Oklahoman: Oklahoma State Question 814 Election Results: Voters Reject TSET Changes
Mere months after Oklahomans voted to expand Medicaid, they rejected an option to help pay for the state’s share of the expansion. Oklahoma voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly opposed State Question 814 to redirect a portion of Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust funds to help pay for the state’s 10% share of Medicaid expansion. (Forman, 11/4)
Norman Transcript: Voters Reject Tapping Of TSET For Medicaid Expansion
Voters decided Tuesday that they don’t want lawmakers to pay for Medicaid expansion by tapping the state’s constitutionally protected tobacco settlement funds. Nearly 60% voted against the ballot measure. The resounding rejection of State Question 814 dealt a blow to legislators. Lawmakers had proposed reducing the amount of the annual payment that flows into the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) by 50% to offset some of the expense of the upcoming Medicaid expansion approved by voters earlier this year. (Stecklein, 11/3)
Dallas Morning News: As COVID-19 Leaves Texans Jobless And Lacking Health Insurance, Lawmakers Mull Expanding Medicaid
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Texas already had the highest number of people in the country without health insurance. Since then, thousands of Texans have lost their jobs -- and their health insurance -- raising concerns about how many people will have coverage by next year. There’s an option on the table to get at least 1 million more people covered, mostly at the federal government’s expense. And now, Republicans in control of the Legislature are starting to show interest, especially after a raft of red states went ahead and expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. (Morris, 11/2)
On another subject, industry groups are pushing for changes in federal rules on Medicare.
Modern Healthcare: Nursing Homes, Hospitals Urge Easing COVID-19 Testing, Reporting Rules
Hospital and nursing home leaders didn't hold back in their blunt criticism of CMS' new requirements around COVID-19 testing and data reporting, characterizing them as overly burdensome. CMS received almost 170 comments by yesterday's deadline on its interim final rule, which requires nursing homes to routinely test staff and residents for COVID-19. The rule also requires hospitals to report COVID-19 data daily or face losing their Medicare reimbursement, a penalty the industry said is unnecessarily harsh. (Bannow, 11/3)
Modern Healthcare: Medical-Device Industry, MedPAC Oppose CMS' Proposed Coverage Determination Changes
Medical-device associations are urging CMS to withdraw its proposal changing how Medicare determines if a service or item will be covered. In a proposed rule released in late August, CMS would modify Medicare's long-standing standards for coverage. Currently, CMS considers a service for coverage if it's a recognized Medicare benefit and "reasonable and necessary" for treatment or diagnosis, which isn't currently defined. CMS is proposing to define the "reasonable and necessary" stipulation as meaning an item or service is safe and effective, not experimental and appropriate. CMS then gave appropriateness several definitions including if a service or item is currently covered by commercial insurance. (Castellucci, 11/3)
