Medicaid News
Reid Planning To Start Debate On COBRA, Medicaid Help Extensions
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is planning to start debate Monday on a bill that would extend COBRA health coverage benefit subsidies for people who have been laid-off. The measure, part of a larger package of expired government programs, also would help states with Medicaid reimbursements.
Medicaid, CHIP payments to be reviewed by new federal commission
A newly appointed commission will examine how Medicaid physician pay affects access to care by Medicaid patients and those in the Children's Health Insurance Program, among other issues. The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, or MACPAC, will be chaired by Diane Rowland, ScD, executive director of the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. The U.S. comptroller general appointed the panel's 17 members Dec. 23, 2009.
Medicaid rolls grew 5% in 2008
Medicaid enrollment increased by an average of 4.8% nationally between December 2007 and December 2008 to reach 44.7 million, according to figures compiled by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Six states experienced double-digit increases: Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Maryland and Wisconsin. Wisconsin led all states with a 16.8% enrollment spike in the 12-month period, in part due to an expansion of Medicaid eligibility in BadgerCare Plus in February 2008.
Despite Subsidy, Cobra's Bite Still Stings for Many
The government is expanding a massive safety net to help the unemployed buy health insurance, but millions of people can't access the aid because of the way the program was designed. As a cornerstone of the economic stimulus plan, the administration of President Barack Obama allocated $25 billion to pay 65% of health-insurance premiums for workers laid off this year. Earlier this month, Congress extended the program for people laid off through February 2010 and expanded the aid to 15 months from nine.
Medicare, Medicaid spent $54 billion too much in 2009, White House says
Improper payments for health care made up a large portion of the $98 billion the federal government spent inappropriately in fiscal 2009. This total was an increase of $26 billion over the previous year, according to a report issued by the White House Office of Management and Budget. The Nov. 17 report concluded that Medicare fee for service improperly spent $24 billion in fiscal 2009, a rate equivalent to 7.8% of total outlays, and Medicaid improperly spent $18 billion, a rate of 9.6%. Medicare Advantage improperly spent $12 billion in 2009, a rate of 15.4% of total outlays on the private plans.
Michigan slashes Medicaid fees for doctors by another 8%
Michigan physicians won't be taxed more, but they are having their Medicaid fees slashed again. Michigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm on Oct. 30 signed a $45 billion, one-year budget that reduces Medicaid fees for doctors by $355 million, bringing their pay to about 55% of private insurance rates and about 50% of Medicare rates. These 8% cuts follow a 4% reduction in physician fees ordered by Granholm on July 1.
Medicaid pay could be cut again when stimulus money runs out
Federal stimulus funding has helped state Medicaid programs avoid drastic reductions in eligibility and physician fees, but program directors already are contemplating such cuts when the additional federal support runs out at the end of next year.
Holes in the safety net: Medicaid falls short just as some need it most
Doctors at the Maple City Health Care Center, a neighborhood clinic where the toddler's family receives most care, couldn’t diagnose the problem. The child needed to see a specialist, but no local dermatologist would agree to accept Medicaid, the government’s safety net plan. Instead, Antonia Mejorado, 33, has to drive nearly two hours to see a dermatologist willing to treat her daughter's potentially serious illness. With more and more doctors not accepting medicaid, covering the uninsured has become and increasing problem.
Bills Aim to Cut Medcaid, Medicare Fraud
Congress is attempting to step up efforts to combat fraud and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Two new bills were introduced May 5 that aim to reduce the prevalence of identity theft in Medicare and increase transparency of Medicaid payment data.
Families USA, PhRMA join forces, push Medicaid expansion
Advocacy group Families USA and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America have unveiled a joint campaign that outlines several strategies for achieving universal health coverage, including a provision to expand Medicaid coverage.
Improving Coordination Between Medicare's
Special Needs Plans and Medicaid
Special Needs Plans (SNPs)
are intended to improve care coordination, improve quality of care, and
reduce the costs for treating high-risk, high-cost Medicare
beneficiaries, including those who qualify for both Medicare and
Medicaid benefits. Many SNPs, however, do not coordinate their benefits
with state Medicaid programs. Combined with negative perceptions of
managed care among some of the elderly, this has led to low plan
enrollment and limited impact.
