Author Archives: Anh Pham
MI to Consider Transitioning Long-Term Care into Managed Care
Crain’s Detroit Business reported on February 18, 2018, that Michigan will consider a proposal to transition the state’s $2.8 billion Medicaid nursing home and long-term care services programs into managed care. An initial review by the state Department of Health and Human Services is expected to begin by July 1. Read More
WY Senate Introduces Bill Requiring Work Requirements; House Fails to Pass Mirroring Bill
The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported on February 17, 2018, that the Wyoming Senate introduced a bill that would introduce work requirements for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Wyoming House failed to introduce a bill mirroring the Senate version. The Senate bill calls for the Wyoming Department of Health to apply for a waiver to implement work requirements, with certain exemptions. An estimated 3,300 enrollees would be affected. Read More
NE Names Matthew Van Patton Medicaid Director
Live Well Nebraska reported on February 17, 2018, that Matthew Van Patton will replace Calder Lynch as director of the Nebraska Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care effective March 1. Van Patton is currently chief executive of Cadre Medical Technologies and has worked for Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. Read More
Federal, IL Regulators Approve Advocate-Aurora Merger; WI Decision Pending
Modern Healthcare reported on February 15, 2018, that the proposed merger of Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care has received approval from Illinois and federal regulators. The deal still awaits approval from the state of Wisconsin, where Aurora is based. The merged entity would be the tenth largest not-for-profit hospital system. Read More
VA Delegate Terry Kilmore Announces Support for Medicaid Expansion with Work Requirements
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported on February 16, 2018, that Virginia Delegate Terry Kilgore (R-Scott), a high-ranking Republican in the House of Delegates, has announced his support for Medicaid expansion as long as work requirements are included. He called it “a conservative approach to expanding Medicaid.” House Speaker Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) has been negotiating with Governor Ralph Northam over the conditions for expansion, which would require able-bodied recipients to seek work, job training or education, or participate in public service. Read More
KY Reveals Waiver Implementation Will Result in Higher Medicaid Spending
The Courier Journal reported on February 14, 2018, that a plan to revamp the Kentucky Medicaid program, including the implementation of work requirements, will increase total Medicaid spending by close to $374 million over the next two years, according to projections from the administration of Governor Matt Bevin. Broader savings projected by the administration come from the assumption that 100,000 individuals will drop out of Medicaid over five years. Those remaining are expected to be sicker and have higher administrative costs, including the cost of new technology to track compliance with work requirements. The revamp is scheduled to launch on July 1, 2018. Read More
HHS Secretary Azar Looks to Ease Restrictions on Physician-Owned Hospitals
Modern Healthcare reported on February 14, 2018, that U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar is looking to ease Affordable Care Act restrictions on physician-owned hospitals. The ACA effectively blocks the establishment of new physician-own hospitals and requires that existing physician-owned hospitals meet certain requirements and gain HHS approval to expand their facilities. Read More
CMS Projects 8 Million Additional Uninsured By 2026
Modern Healthcare reported on February 14, 2018, that repeal of the individual mandate will increase the number of uninsured from 30 million in 2018 to nearly 38 million in 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS attributes the increase to younger and healthier people choosing to be uninsured. Last year, the Congressional Budget Office projected 13 million more people would become uninsured because of the repeal of the mandate. Read More
RI Inmate Program Reduces Opioid Overdose Deaths
Stat News reported on February 14, 2018, that the number of recently released inmates in Rhode Island who died from an opioid overdose decreased between 2016 and 2017. The study attributed the decrease to the availability of medication assisted treatment in correctional facilities starting in 2016. Rhode Island was the first state to offer inmates methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Read More
CMS Is Developing Medicaid Scorecard
The Washington Examiner reported on February 13, 2018, that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is developing a scorecard to evaluate state Medicaid programs. The scorecard would use state-reported data to determine whether state Medicaid programs improved health outcomes, evaluate the impact of policies aimed at treatment and prevention, and potentially determine the impact of work requirements and other types of initiatives. The document could be released later this year. Read More