Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Not Expanding Medicaid Can Cost Local Taxpayers
Property owners in Dallas County, Texas, paid more than $467 million in taxes last year to Parkland Health and Hospital System, the county’s only public hospital, to provide medical care to the poor and uninsured. If Texas had expanded Medicaid, that amount would have been lower.
Getting A Medi-Cal Card Doesn’t Always Guarantee Health Care
The problems with managed care plans, documented in a recent state audit, stem from meteoric enrollment growth and lack of oversight, experts say.
Auditor Slams California’s Oversight Of Medi-Cal Plans Used By 9 Million
Report finds state health officials had no idea whether managed care plans have sufficient doctors, while an overwhelmed ombudsman’s office failed to answer 12,500 calls a month on average.
Adult Dental Coverage Expanding Slowly in Medicaid
The health law mandated dental care for children, but not for adults. Still, some states are slowly making more services available.
California Sees Housing As Significant Investment In Health Care
The state is proposing to use federal Medicaid dollars to usher ill homeless people into housing, arguing the policy saves taxpayers money.
Could Medicaid Have Helped Miami Man Avoid Amputation?
Travails of an uninsured man with diabetes put him on the front lines of the fight raging in the Florida Legislature this week over Medicaid expansion.
When Your Doctor Leaves Your Health Plan, You Likely Can’t Follow
KHN’s consumer columnist answers readers’ questions about options when physicians leave an insurer’s network, the lack of coverage for hearing aids and penalties linked to insurance subsidies.
South Florida Lawmakers Discuss Medicaid Expansion At Forum
With a special legislative session set for next week, state lawmakers and hospital representatives discussed the future of health care in Florida, including Medicaid expansion.
5 Reasons Feds Are Overhauling Regs On Medicaid Outsourcing
Management of the joint state-federal program for low-income people has changed dramatically, and federal officials are seeking to make sure it meets the needs of enrollees.
‘Milestone’ Rules Would Limit Profits, Score Quality For Private Medicaid Plans
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposal, which includes provisions related to network adequacy and quality standards, would be the biggest regulatory change to Medicaid managed care in more than a decade.
Medicaid Expansion Helps Cut Rate Of Older, Uninsured Adults From 12 To 8 Percent
A study finds that in states that did not expand the health program for low-income residents, the rate of uninsurance among 50- to 64-year-olds is twice that of other states.
Who Should Pay To Save The Sight Of An Uninsured South Carolina Man?
A self-employed handyman chose not to buy health insurance. Now, with his savings exhausted and health problems that may lead to blindness, The Charlotte Observer blogs about how his case poses economic, as well as moral challenges.
Medicaid Expansion Is Still A Tumultuous Fight In Several States
Medicaid expansion was a big deal in a handful of states’ legislatures this year. Wyoming said no, Tennessee said no. Montana said yes in last-minute maneuvering, and three more states are coming down to the wire, including Utah, Alaska and Florida.
Missteps By Missouri Medicaid Become Ammunition For Expansion Foes
A stinging federal audit and complaints of long wait times give reluctant lawmakers a line of attack.
Georgia Weighs Medicaid Experiment (But Not Expansion)
State health officials say they will seek increased federal funding and permission to “experiment” with Medicaid to shore up rural and safety net hospitals.
Florida Governor Leaves D.C. Meeting Empty-Handed
Despite ‘a good conversation’ with HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell, Gov. Rick Scott gets no commitment on uncompensated care funding.
Paying Medicaid Enrollees To Get Checkups, Quit Smoking and Lose Weight: Will It Pay Off?
Like wellness programs in the private sector, more than a dozen states are offering incentives to Medicaid enrollees to spur them to make healthier decisions — and potentially save taxpayers money.
Hope, Hurdles In Mental Health: A Medicaid Managed Care Firm’s First Year
Some say Cardinal’s first year’s performance has eased fears about care in Charlotte, N.C., but gaps and challenges remain.
Montana Governor Signs Medicaid Expansion Into Law
Backers of Medicaid expansion celebrated in Helena as Gov. Steve Bullock signed the bill extending the health coverage to an estimated 45,000 more Montanans.
Florida House Goes Home Early Over Medicaid Impasse
Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott sues the federal government, saying the state is being coerced to accept the expansion or lose dollars for other health care programs for the poor.
