Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Only Democrat In Kentucky's Congressional Delegation Demands Answers Over Cuts To Medicaid Benefits
The Hill: Dem Presses HHS On Kentucky Cutting Dental, Vision Coverage For Medicaid
Rep. John Yarmuth, the only Democrat in Kentucky’s congressional delegation, is pressing the Trump administration after his state’s Republican governor abruptly cut off dental and vision coverage for thousands of Medicaid enrollees. Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration announced earlier this month that it was canceling dental and vision coverage for almost 500,000 enrollees in the state’s Medicaid expansion. Kentucky officials said the move was in response to a federal judge striking down the Medicaid work requirements that Bevin has touted. (Sullivan, 7/10)
Reuters: As Arkansas Ushers In New Trump-Era Medicaid Rules, Thousands Fear Losing Benefits
Gregory Tyrone Bryant left his last stable job at a meatpacking factory to fight a cocaine addiction eight years ago. When he returned to the workforce a year later, his options were limited: mostly temporary jobs without healthcare benefits. Since 2014, he’s relied on medical coverage offered under Arkansas’ expanded Medicaid program for low-income households. It proved essential last June when he needed surgery to replace his right knee, and covers costly prescriptions for acid reflux and high blood pressure medicines. (7/11)
Kansas City Star: Amerigroup Files Protest To Aetna Getting KanCare Contract
An insurance company that Kansas officials denied for a new KanCare contract is formally protesting the contract awards and trying to hold up the next generation of the $3 billion-a-year privatized Medicaid program. ...The company's lawyers say Amerigroup should have been allowed to revise its bid on the five-year contracts for "KanCare 2.0" after the Legislature changed the requirements outlined in the Kansas Department of Administration's request for proposals. (Marso, 7/10)
