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Latest KFF Health News Stories

No Car, No Care? Medicaid Transportation At Risk In Some States

KFF Health News Original

For more than 50 years, the program for the poor and sick has been required to ferry certain clients to and from medical appointments. But a few states have sought — and received — waivers to that rule.

Trump’s Work-For-Medicaid Rule Puts Work On States’ Shoulders

KFF Health News Original

States that opt to change their Medicaid program must figure out how to delineate who is covered by the new mandate, how to enforce the rules and how to handle the people seeking exemptions.

Podcast: ‘What The Health?’ Should You Work For Your Medicaid Coverage?

KFF Health News Original

In this episode of “What The Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Sarah Kliff of Vox.com, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times discuss possible new work requirements for Medicaid recipients and the latest on renewing the Children’s Health Insurance Program, plus Rovner interviews Princeton health historian Paul Starr.

Trump Administration Clears Way To Force Some Medicaid Enrollees To Work

KFF Health News Original

Allowing states to mandate that non-disabled Medicaid enrollees work as a condition for coverage would mark one of the biggest changes to the program since it began more than 50 years ago. A decision on the first of the state requests could come within days.

Maine Voters Chose Medicaid Expansion. Why Is Their Governor Resisting?

KFF Health News Original

Even though voters in Maine decided to expand Medicaid through a ballot measure, the law’s fate is still unclear. Gov. Paul LePage says the Legislature must find funds for it without raising taxes. Advocates say the law is on their side and expansion must be implemented.

Trump Administration Plan to Add Medicaid Work Requirement Stirs Fears

KFF Health News Original

The recent announcement by a top administration official that the federal government will entertain requests to implement work requirements for many adult Medicaid enrollees has raised concerns among advocates for the program.

Maine Voters Greenlight Medicaid Expansion, But Governor Says Whoa

KFF Health News Original

A battle brews as Republican Gov. Paul LePage says he won’t implement the Medicaid expansion unless the Legislature funds Maine’s share. Other states, such as Idaho and Utah, are keenly watching.

Medicaid Chief Says Feds Are Willing To Approve Work Requirements

KFF Health News Original

Seema Verma, the head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services tells state officials that she envisions changes that could include work requirements for Medicaid enrollees.

Enriched By The Poor: California Health Insurers Make Billions Through Medicaid

KFF Health News Original

Medicaid is rarely associated with getting rich. But some insurance companies are reaping spectacular profits off the taxpayer-funded program in California, even when the state finds their patient care is subpar.

Despite GOP Efforts To Corral Medicaid Spending, States Expand Benefits

KFF Health News Original

States are adding a variety of services, including expansions of mental health and substance abuse treatments and dental care, according to a 50-state survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Chasing Millions In Medicaid Dollars, Hospitals Buy Up Nursing Homes

KFF Health News Original

The strategy has been used mostly in Indiana, where many county-owned hospitals purchased or leased nursing homes to take advantage of a wrinkle in Medicaid payment rules and augment federal reimbursements.

The Storm Has Passed, But Puerto Rico’s Health Faces Prolonged Recovery

KFF Health News Original

From infections linked to the storm to trying to treat people with chronic diseases in damaged clinics, health officials on this American territory struggle to stay ahead of the needs.

Patients, Health Insurers Challenge Iowa’s Privatized Medicaid

KFF Health News Original

Complaints are rising against for-profit insurance companies that manage Medicaid for about 600,000 Iowans. The privatization of Medicaid is a national trend affecting more than half of the 74 million Americans who get their health care through the state-federal program.

5 Takeaways From Congress’ Failure To Extend Funding For Children’s Coverage

KFF Health News Original

Federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program expired Sept. 30. Many states still have money in their budgets, but they’ll be worried until Congress renews the program.