Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
With More Flexibility, States Can Become More Nimble In Operating Medicaid Program, CMS Chief Says
CQ: CMS Leader Outlines Future Of Medicaid Flexibility
The Trump administration official who oversees the Medicaid and Medicare programs outlined during a wide-ranging interview with CQ Roll Call how potential ways to increase state flexibility could play out. Seema Verma, who serves as administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has guided the agency since 2017 after spending years in the private sector consulting for state Medicaid programs and helping reshape Indiana’s Medicaid program. (Raman, 5/31)
Modern Healthcare: Utah Proposes Capping Medicaid Spending
As part of an unprecedented waiver request, Utah has asked the CMS to cap the growth rate of federal Medicaid payments to cover its limited expansion population at the rate of medical inflation, rather than at the much lower rate of consumer price inflation. The Section 1115 demonstration request issued Friday asked the CMS to pay the Affordable Care Act's enhanced, 90% matching rate for the state's partial expansion of Medicaid coverage to adults with incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level. (Meyer, 5/31)
Chicago Tribune: Illinois Lawmakers Pass Bill To Help Medicaid Patients Keep Coverage, Ensure Hospitals Get Paid Faster
After years of criticism from patients and hospitals, Illinois lawmakers have passed a bill aimed at fixing a slew of problems within the state’s Medicaid system. Illinois residents on Medicaid — a state and federally funded health insurance program that serves the poor and disabled — have complained of trouble enrolling and staying in the program. The state has long had a backlog of applications, and many Medicaid members say they wrongly lost coverage when they had to renew it. (Schencker, 5/31)
The Associated Press: Iowa Sued Over Prohibition On Medicaid For Gender Surgery
The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa filed a lawsuit Friday challenging a new state law that prohibits the use of Medicaid funding for gender reassignment surgery. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill on May 3 that included language amending the state's Civil Rights Act so that government officials are not required to pay for gender reassignment surgery. (Pitt, 5/31)
Des Moines Register: Transition Surgeries For Transgender Iowans On Medicaid In Limbo — Again
The ACLU of Iowa lodged another challenge in the yearslong battle over transgender Iowans’ right to use Medicaid funds for transition-related care by suing Friday to block an Iowa law that specifically denies that coverage. The suit is in response to legislation passed in the waning days of the session that allows government entities to opt out of using public insurance dollars, including Medicaid, to pay for transition-related surgeries. It was filed on behalf of two transgender Iowans — Mika Covington of central Iowa and Aiden Vasquez of southeast Iowa — and LGBTQ advocacy group One Iowa. (Crowder, 5/31)
