SPN Medicaid Exchange - Issue 55

Published on Monday, June 16, 2008
MEDICAID EXCHANGE

What's New in Medicaid

And Other Health Care Issues

Commonwealth study finds that 25 million people with health care coverage are 'underinsured.' But their methodology is full of holes, according to John Graham at the Pacific Research Institute. Read his analysis, "Commonwealth Fund's Count of 'Underinsured' Lifting the Carpet." Also read another rebuttal from Greg Scandlen of Consumers for Health Care Choices.

Racial disparities in health care seem to have less to do with discrimination than "one-size-fits-all" medicine that does not meet the individual needs of patients. Read John Goodman's Health Alert, "Race and Reason."

Goodman on HHS's pilot EMR project: Why does the health care industry need to be prodded to store records on computers when other professions have for years? HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt will pay doctors for electronically monitoring and recording a variety of practices that affect more than 3 million patients. We can blame it on our antiquated physician payment system. Read John Goodman's Health Alert, "NCPA Gives Shakespearean Response to HHS' EMR Demo Project."

Update on State Reforms

Colorado: Governor Bill Ritter recently signed 11 health care bills into law; but the results may be a mixed bag. One market-driven bill will encourage health insurers to develop affordable "bare-bones" policies for those who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid - this likely means lifting state mandates that make insurance expensive. However, another bill will expand children's coverage by lowering eligibility standards, thereby simply enlarging the program. Read, "Governor Signs Health Care Bills."

Illinois is considering spending hundreds of millions of additional dollars to provide health care for those who cannot afford it - and even some who can. But a better solution may be to look at what other states are doing - namely Florida and New Jersey, which are freeing up their health insurance markets. Read, "Springfield Should Look to the East for Health Care."

Maine's Dirigo Health Care Program is looking for more money through a new tax on beer, wine and soda. But the tax may be overturned on the November ballot through a citizens' veto. That is not stopping the Dirigo Health Agency, which will assess additional fees on health insurance sold to residents if necessary. Read "Dirigo Health Backup Plan in Place if New Tax Law Repealed."

Massachusetts Health Care: Much has been said about the outcome of the state's mandatory health insurance law passed in 2007. An assessment by the Urban Institute finds that the state's number of uninsured has dropped, but the costs have been higher than originally anticipated. Read their report here.

In Oregon, the governor has expressed concerned over problems with the state's health care program, saying it costs too much and covers too few. The newly created Oregon Health Fund Board will take up the issues in preparation for 2009. Read, "Governor Urges Reform Board to Save Oregon Health Plan."

In-store health care clinics are popping up all over the place, and offer the uninsured an alternative to emergency room care and government-run clinics for the uninsured. Read the latest study from Kansas' Flint Hills Institute, "Adding Health Care to Your Shopping List: The Emergency of In-Store Clinics."

Be Prepared

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.

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:

Florida: Sen. Dawson's Alzheimer's Disease/Medicaid Waiver Program Becomes Law
Mississippi: "Cherry-Picking" Healthiest Prevalent Among State's Insurers
New York: Medicaid to Deny Payment for Hospital Errors
Oklahoma: State Health Care Reform Study Lists Ideas for Coverage
Utah: Managing Medicaid: Program to Reduce Emergency Room Visits
West Virginia: Groups Want West Virginia to Suspend Redesigned Medicaid Plan Until Revised

Long-Term Care

Read the latest updates from the Center for Long-Term Care's LTC Consciousness Tour.

Links of Interest

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

Top

SPN Headquarters:
2020 North 14th Street
Ste 250
Arlington, VA 22201

Phone: (703) 243-1655
Fax: (703) 740-0314
info@spn.org

West Coast Office:
PO Box 5208
Richmond, CA 94805

Phone: (510) 965-9700
Fax: (510) 965-9701

Terms and Conditions