Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Safety Net Work Requirements Beyond Medicaid Waivers Stall From Lackluster Support
The New York Times: Trump’s Vow To Make More Federal Benefits Depend On Having A Job Faces An Uncertain Future
In his State of the Union speech two months ago, President Trump vowed to end welfare as he defined it, heralding a plan to force recipients off federal housing vouchers, food assistance and Medicaid if they were not willing to do “a hard day’s work.” Days before the speech, as part of the plan, several federal departments took steps to impose the stricter work requirements on able-bodied adults receiving noncash aid. The move could result in the loss of subsistence benefits for as many as four million poor, single adults over the next few years, experts say. (Thrush, 3/15)
KCUR: Medicaid Suspension Stalled By KanCare Expansion Debate
The mere threat of launching debate on Medicaid expansion in Kansas has caged up a measure to suspend, rather than terminate, coverage for people while they’re locked up. So legislators have created a policy work-around that doles out some extra money with direction to the state healthy agency to keep that coverage waiting for people when they get free. (Fox, 3/13)
Columbus Dispatch: Yost, Lawmakers Demand Transparency From CVS On Possible Abuse
A group of Ohio legislative leaders and the state auditor said Wednesday they don’t know if the companies that handle billions in state drug business have a duty to protect taxpayers. They called a press conference at the Statehouse to explain their plans to investigate whether Medicaid pharmacy contracts are fair to both retail pharmacists and Ohio taxpayers. (Schladen, 3/14)
