SPN Medicaid Exchange - Issue 88

Published on Friday, February 05, 2010
MEDICAID EXCHANGE

SPN Medicaid Exchange - Issue 88

---

What's New in Medicaid

And Other Health Care Issues

Voters can now make toll-free calls to their representatives in Washington about the threat of a government-takeover of the health care system.

The www.actionarmy.org link provides the ability to activate a phone call to Senators and Representatives with just the click of a mouse.

Health Care News

Can Jeb Bush's Medicaid reform survive? Read more here.

Does the U.S. lag behind in providing patients care outside of normal office hours as an alternative to emergency room? Linda Gorman refutes the Commonwealth Fund's assertion that we do. Read here.

The real issue over health care reform is not about health care at all, says John Goodman. It's about whether we are going to make decisions in one-sixth of our economy privately or publicly. Read his Health Alert.

Update on State Reforms

Medicaid Trends: About 70 percent of Medicaid enrollees nationwide are in a managed care plan, according to the Kaiser Foundation. Read their new Policy Brief.

The troubled economy is putting state health plans in jeopardy, says USA Today.

More State News

• Obama Seeks Extended U.S. Medicaid to States
• Colorado: Medicaid Delays in Colorado May Spark Lawsuit
• Nursing Homes Sue State of Connecticut
• Florida: Medicaid Must Pay for Diapers, Judge Rules
• Florida: Analysts See Positive Signs in Florida's Medicaid Data
• Georgia: State Faces $506 Million Medicaid Gap; Hospital Fee Mulled
• Idaho: Proposed Cost-Sharing Worries Parents of Disabled Children
• Idaho: Economy Causes Record Demand for Public Aid
• Kansas: Senate Upholds Parkinson's Medicaid Reimbursement Cut
• Louisiana: State Reaches Agreement to Repay Medicaid Money
• Missouri: State Budget Director Says Medicaid Eligibility Requirements Won't be Cut
• Nebraska: Medicaid Provision for Nebraska Raises Ire
• Nevada: Governor Wants to Explore Dropping Medicaid
• North Carolina: Medicaid Grows to 15 Percent of State's Budget
• Ohio: State Changes Medicaid Prescription Drug Coverage.
• Oklahoma: Medicaid Cuts Oxygen
• Rhode Island: More Rhode Islanders are on Medicaid
• Texas: Officials Charge More Embezzlers in Medicaid Fraud Scheme
• Utah: Medicaid Audit Shows Millions of Dollars Could be Saved
• Utah: Bill Would Have Medicaid Pay for Birth Control Longer

Be Prepared

Order a copy of the NCPA Handbook on State Health Care Reform here.

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 can help 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.

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.

Top