Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Senate Disaster Bill May Give Puerto Rico Full Medicaid Funding For 2 Years
Modern Healthcare: Puerto Rico Medicaid Funding Possible In Next Disaster Relief Bill
Puerto Rico's dwindling Medicaid coffers may get two years of full funding in the Senate's disaster aid package after negotiations for the same broke down in the House. If Congress lifts the caps on the territory's Medicaid funding, Puerto Rico wouldn't have to cough up its usual share of Medicaid costs, which even before Hurricane Maria it couldn't afford. According to senior GOP aides and Congressional Hispanic Caucus aides close to discussions, the Senate is likely to land on this two-year Medicaid funding deal as the territory runs up against yet another Medicaid funding cliff. (Luthi, 1/9)
The Associated Press: SD Seeking Medicaid Work Requirement
South Dakota is asking the Trump administration to allow the state to require some Medicaid recipients to work to qualify for the government-funded health coverage for the poor, Gov. Dennis Daugaard said Tuesday in his State of the State address. The change would apply to about 4,500 low-income, able-bodied parents who aren't caring for an infant, Daugaard told state lawmakers gathered for the first day of the 2018 legislative session. The governor proposed piloting the new requirement in Minnehaha and Pennington counties. (Nord, 1/9)
Sioux Falls (S.D.) Argus Leader: Gov. Daugaard To Seek Work Requirement For Medicaid Recipients
Daugaard said the requirement would not apply to children, pregnant women, people with disabilities or low-income parents caring for infants. He estimated that about 4,500 recipients would be subject to the new rule. Republicans supported the move while Democrats said the governor should return his focus to expanding Medicaid in South Dakota. (Ferguson, 1/9)
Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette-Mail: Legislative Joint Committee Discusses State Investments, Medicaid-Funded Abortions
For a second month in a row, legislators questioned Cindy Beane, commissioner of the state Bureau of Medical Services, at length over state-funded Medicaid abortions. ... Beane on Tuesday noted that under federal Medicaid regulations, pregnant women with incomes of up to 150 percent of FPL were eligible for Medicaid coverage, prior to the expansion. She also provided data showing there were 1,560 Medicaid-funded abortions performed in 2017. ... [State Sen. Robert Karnes] asked Beane if BMS could compile a “top ten” list of physicians who most frequently provide Medicaid abortions, as well as a breakdown of specific reasons the abortions were performed. (Kabler, 1/9)
Modern Healthcare: Another Illinois Medicaid Shake-Up Threatens Hospitals
Now, state lawmakers, the Rauner administration and lobbyists want to modernize the hospital assessment program, shaking up how it doles out money to medical centers across the state. Currently, it redistributes funds based on claims data for Medicaid services provided in the hospital in 2005 and on an outpatient basis in 2009. The potential overhaul is causing major anxiety among hospital executives. (Schorsch, 1/9)
Boston Globe: State Sues Mental Health Care Company Over Improper Medicaid Payments
Attorney General Maura Healey has sued a Brockton mental health care company, accusing it of providing services by unlicensed, unqualified, and unsupervised staff and fraudulently billing the state for tens of millions of dollars. The company, South Bay Community Services (formerly known as South Bay Mental Health) provided services to some 30,000 people on the Massachusetts Medicaid program for low-income residents, called MassHealth. (Dayal McCluskey, 1/9)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia Owes Federal Government $665,000, Watchdog Report Says
Georgia’s mistakes led the state and federal governments to make duplicate payments for care of some Medicaid patients, a new audit says. Now, Georgia is being asked to refund the federal government’s share of the duplicate payments — more than $665,000. (Norder, 1/9)
