Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Texas Medicaid Clients Who Use Planned Parenthood Have 30 Days To Find Alternate Care
Texas Tribune: Texas Gives Medicaid Recipients On Planned Parenthood Until Feb. 3 To Find New Provider
Thousands of low-income Medicaid recipients who rely on Planned Parenthood for non-abortion services like cancer screenings and birth control will have until Feb. 3 to find new health care providers, according to a letter sent from the state’s Health and Human Services Commission to the women’s health provider Monday. The extension comes after the conservative U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in November sided with Texas officials who have long tried to block Planned Parenthood from participating in Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for the poor and disabled. To qualify, a single woman in Texas with two children must make less than $230 a month. (Najmabadi, 1/5)
Houston Chronicle: As Texas Boots Planned Parenthood, Medicaid Clients Get 30 Days To Find New Providers
The nonprofit had asked for at least a six month extension to help recipients transition to new providers, following a November court ruling that allowed Republican officials to stop reimbursing it for Medicaid services. In the letter sent Monday, however, the health agency said it has only until Feb. 3, and is prohibited from accepting any new Medicaid patients. Planned Parenthood served about 8,000 Medicaid recipients last year. The program helps low-income Texans, but many health providers don’t participate because of low reimbursement rates from the state. (Blackman, 1/7)
Austin Statesman: Texas Lawmakers Could Be Poised To Debate Medicaid Expansion
Texas continues to lead the nation in the number of uninsured residents, a figure that estimates show has risen during the pandemic. At the same time, the state remains one of the few that has opted not to expand Medicaid, which would extend access to the joint state-federal program to more low-income adults. Advocates argue that the pandemic has created the perfect storm that could finally compel Republicans to tackle the issue (Democrats have long been in favor of the move), considering the lack of access to health care amid a public health crisis and the anticipated budgetary shortfall that could be aided by additional federal dollars available through expansion. (Mekelburg, 1/7)
In other Medicaid news —
Modern Healthcare: Medicaid Expansion Has Saved Hospitals $6.4M, Study Shows
Hospitals in Medicaid expansion states have saved an average of $6.4 million on uncompensated care since the policies took effect, with safety-net hospitals pocketing even more savings, according to a new study published in Health Affairs. Researchers from the Urban Institute on Tuesday reported that uncompensated care comprised 6% of total expenses for hospitals located in non-expansion states in 2017, double the amount for those located in states that had expanded the program. (Tepper, 1/7)
FierceHealthcare: Study: Hospitals In Medicaid Expansion States Could Have Better Chance Of Weathering COVID-19 Crisis
Hospitals in states that expanded Medicaid have a greater chance of weathering the financial crisis caused by COVID-19 as they have increased Medicaid revenue, a new study finds. The study, published Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs, looked at the financial impact of the expansion on hospitals in 2016 and 2017 and the differences between facilities that resided in states which did and did not expand Medicaid. (King, 1/6)
