Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Missouri’s Medicaid Applicants Get Put On Hold
Call center wait times climb even as the application backlog mounts and the state reports the single largest monthly drop in Medicaid enrollment in June.
Putting Teeth In Health Reform
Many North Carolina dentists refuse to treat Medicaid patients because of the low reimbursements, while the federal health law defines children’s dental insurance as an essential benefit” but doesn’t require parents to buy it.
Calif. Bill Would Protect Estates Of Many Who Received Medicaid
Federal law allows states to seize assets, such as homes, after a Medicaid enrollee has died to help cover the costs of the program’s spending on basic health services for people 55 years and older.
Low-Income Patients Face Hurdles To Care At Public Hospital In Miami
Jackson Health System offers free and reduced-cost treatment for those who qualify, but advocacy groups complain it fails to meet requirements for charity care.
One-Third Of Georgia’s Medicaid Applicants Still In Limbo
The state has one of the largest numbers of children who are Medicaid-eligible but still uninsured.
Federal Officials Order Medicaid To Cover Autism Services
Advocates applaud the move, but some states are concerned about the costs of providing such therapy.
Pediatricians In Florida Could See Relief From Low Medicaid Payments
A possible resolution of a lawsuit against Florida health and child-welfare officials could mean that physicians will receive what they consider to be adequate compensation.
Illinois To Boost Medicaid Funding For Contraception
Officials seek to increase access to services since the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the health law’s birth control mandate for some employers.
To Beat Heroin Addiction, A Turn To Coaches
A one-year pilot project in Gosnold, Mass., provides recovering addicts with daily, sometimes hourly, help from a recovery coach.
Obamacare Creates ‘Upheaval’ At Free Clinics
With many of their patients now insured under the law, most W. Va. free clinics are choosing to get paid by Medicaid.
Cleveland’s Early Medicaid Expansion Paying Off
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, created its own Medicaid program for 28,000 residents. So far, E.R. visits have dropped 60 percent.
Groups Sue Tennessee Over Medicaid Enrollment Delays
The plaintiffs accuse state officials of depriving thousands of residents of health care coverage.
Arkansas Weighs Plan To Make Some Medicaid Enrollees Fund Savings Accounts
The state is proposing that many people enrolled in the “private option” Medicaid expansion program contribute between $5 and $25 a month. Those who don’t could face additional medical expenses.
California Releases Proposal For Clearing Medicaid Backlog
As the federal government demands more accountability, other states are working on plans to fix delays and glitches in their systems as well.
Texas Sees Increased Medicaid Sign-Ups
Even though the state did not expand eligibility under the health law, experts say publicity about the law spurred greater awareness of the program.
Mountainous Backlog Stalls Medi-Cal Expansion in California
It’s hard to pin down why applicants are waiting so long for approval, and when the problem will be resolved. Meanwhile, some people are putting off treatment.
Michigan To Reward Medicaid Enrollees Who Take ‘Personal Responsibility’
The state is among the first to use financial incentives to encourage enrollees to boost their health.
More Than 1.7 Million Consumers Still Wait For Medicaid Decisions
Technological glitches at the federal and state levels and inadequate staffing have delayed eligibility determinations.
Jury Is Still Out On Medicaid Managed Care
While a growing number of states are contracting with managed care companies to manage their Medicaid programs, there are still questions about cost savings and quality.
Missouri’s Declining Medicaid Caseload Stands Out In National Report
Critics contend the state is making it harder for people to enroll or renew their coverage.
