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SPN Medicaid Exchange - Issue 54
Published on Wednesday, June 04, 2008
MEDICAID EXCHANGE
SPN Medicaid Exchange - Issue 54
What's New in Medicaid
And Other Health Care Issues
Purchasing private insurance should be just as attractive as being uninsured or relying on Medicaid. Read John Goodman's Health Alert, "My Best Idea."
What's the matter with Arizona? From 2000 to 2008, spending by Arizona's state-funded health program for low-income families will nearly triple. All that spending, however, isn't translating into fewer uninsured people, says the Goldwater Institute. Read their report.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist succeeded in moving an innovative reform through the state legislature. The "Cover Florida" plan will offer lower-income families scaled down benefits for more affordable premiums. Read, "The Florida Revelation."
How to insure the uninsured. Doing it right requires 10 steps. Read "Ten Steps to Insuring the Uninsured," from the NCPA's Handbook on State Health Care Reform.
Update on State Reforms
Indiana: Last December, the legislature approved the Healthy Indiana Plan that would give enrollees a POWER account (Personal Wellness Responsibility) funded by the state, to help pay for doctor visits and prescription drugs. Many people who were previously without coverage now have affordable insurance. Read "Healthy Indiana Plan Reaches Milestone."
Iowa: A bill requiring mandatory health insurance for children faces an uncertain future in Iowa. See "Iowans Likely to Reject Health Insurance Mandate."
Maryland: Officials are scouring tax records to find families whose children are eligible for SCHIP, but not enrolled. See "Md. Tax Records Are Scoured for SCHIP-Eligibles."
Massachusetts: The state's mandatory health coverage plan is proving to be expensive and ineffective, says Grace Marie Turner. Read more here.
New Hampshire: The American Medical Association is promoting a health care reform plan that would emphasize market reforms over government bureaucracy. See "AMA Lobbies for Changes to Health Care in New Hampshire."
Florida: A new Florida law will allow insurers to create basic "bare bones" health insurance policies that will presumably cost less and help the state's uninsured. Read "New Florida Law Allows Low-Cost Health Policies."
Georgia: A new Georgia law will allow the state's insurers to provide monetary incentives for patients to practice healthy behaviors, such as smoking cessation and weight loss. Read "New Law Gives Best Health Insurance Option."
New Jersey: Two radically different health insurance bills have been proposed in the state's legislature; one bill would give the uninsured more options in finding health insurance, allowing them to purchase it from other states; the other bill would pile on more mandates and regulations, making health insurance even more expensive. Read the NCPA's new brief analysis, "Insuring the Uninsured."
Minnesota: Governor Pawlenty just vetoed a bill that would have expanded Medicaid in his state, saying that it does nothing to lower costs and improve quality. Maybe he's on to something. Read Governor Vetoes Health Care Bill
Be Prepared
Does Medicaid spending create jobs in your state? Linda Gorman says the claim is ridiculous. Read NCPA Health Alert, "Is There A Silver Lining in Uncontrolled Spending?"
The Commonwealth Fund finds an answer to the triple problem of cost, quality and access: more government bureaucracy. Sound laughable? Read John Goodman's Health Alert, "Problem Solved."
Do Families USA numbers add up in your state? Many people die each year as a result of being uninsured, claims Families U.S.A. They even provide state-by-state estimates. But Linda Gorman says the numbers don't add up. Read the NCPA Health Alert, "Dying for (Media) Coverage."
Sign up for John Goodman's health policy blog at: http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/
Take Advantage of the NCPA's Medicaid Service Center
- The NCPA's Medicaid Service Center canhelp state-based think tanks with commentaries, policy papers and speakers for briefings.Those interested in exploring further should contact Devon Herrick at (972) 308-6470.
Other News:
- Editorial: Insurance Mandates
- Medicaid Funding Cut Rule Blocked
- California: Doctors Sue to Block Medicaid Cuts
- Illinois: Bill Would Give Medicaid Hospitals Additional Funding
- Indiana: Free Medicaid Lead Screening Tests are Underused
States Struggle with Medicaid Costs
- Mississippi: Current Medicaid Deficit Far From Biggest
- Mississippi: Governor Slams Plan to Tap Rainy Day Fund for Medicaid
Long-Term Care
Links of Interest
- Center for Long-Term Care Reform, Inc.
- Center for Health Transformation
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Consumers for Health Care Choices
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health)
- National Association of State Medicaid Directors
What the Other Side Says
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
- Families USA - Medicaid and Children's Health
- The Commonwealth Fund
- The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
The NCPA welcomes submissions of Medicaid-related research for inclusion in future editions.
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