Medicaid
Missouri is getting more people to the dentist—for more than a pretty smile
Missouri Medicaid plan just started covering routine dental exams for adults, almost a decade after adding coverage for cleanings. Health experts believe the change will help more people get preventative dental care.
Lessons learned from the Medicaid unwinding period
A new report highlights how states have conducted post-pandemic eligibility renewals with the help of federal waivers and data.
States struggle to help patients navigate insurance hurdle known as ‘step therapy’
Insurers often refuse to cover a specific drug until after the patient has tried cheaper alternatives.
Nursing homes are left in the dark as more utilities cut power to prevent wildfires
As preemptive power cuts become more widespread, nursing homes are being forced to evaluate their preparedness.
Safety-net health clinics cut services and staff amid Medicaid ‘unwinding’
Nationwide, health centers that serve low-income communities face a financial storm created by a sharp rise in the cost of care, a tight workforce and now fewer insured patients.
State Medicaid costs poised to surge from pandemic lows
State costs rose by 13% in fiscal 2023 and are expected to increase by an additional 17.2% in fiscal 2024 thanks to the phaseout of enhanced federal aid, provider rate increases and slowing but still elevated enrollment levels.
Montana could be a model as more GOP states weigh Medicaid work requirements
The state has a program that can help Medicaid enrollees get job training, career guidance.
AC, power banks, mini fridges: State equips Medicaid patients for climate change
Oregon wants to be proactive and pay for equipment that will help an estimated 200,000 residents manage their health at home before extreme weather or climate-related disaster hits.
Biden administration sets higher staffing mandates. Most nursing homes don’t meet them.
Under the new rules, nursing homes participating in Medicare and Medicaid will be required to follow designated nurse staffing standards.
Holdout states consider expanding Medicaid—with work requirements
The prospect of a second Trump administration has renewed interest in the idea.
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City-country mortality gap widens amid persistent holes in rural health care access
As rural health services continue to erode, population health declines and mortality rates increase. That endangers local economies and employment, rural health experts say.
Some low-wage earners must choose between pay raises and government assistance
Lawmakers in North Carolina heard from experts about the “benefits cliff” and how other jurisdictions are developing strategies to lessen its impact on low-income families.
Georgia’s Medicaid work requirements costing taxpayers millions despite low enrollment
The program touted as an alternative to Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act has cost taxpayers millions, with more than 90% going toward administrative and consulting costs rather than medical care.
Senate approves six spending bills, averts partial government shutdown
Counties praised the package for addressing Medicaid access for the incarcerated. Now, congressional negotiators turn to the remaining six spending bills, which will determine the future of internet subsidies and other significant programs.
Medicaid waivers help states pilot solutions to health, housing disparities
If approved, Nebraska’s Section 1115 Medicaid waiver would help finance two medical respite centers, or post-hospital recovery centers, for individuals experiencing homelessness.
As pandemic aid winds down, states scramble to fill gaps
COVID-19 left a lasting mark on a few sectors, with schools, public transit and child care providers facing fiscal cliffs as federal funding dries up. State legislators, many already grappling with shortfalls, are looking for solutions.
Halfway through ‘unwinding,’ Medicaid enrollment is down about 10 million
While many beneficiaries no longer qualify because their incomes rose, millions of people have been dropped from the rolls for procedural reasons like failing to respond to notices or return paperwork.
States’ prescription boards tackle high drug costs
At least 11 states are developing drug cost review boards to identify and address costs of expensive medications.
