Legislation and Policy
Affordable Care Act Celebrated, Contemplated On
Third Anniversary.
Saturday
was the third anniversary of the day President Obama signed the Affordable
Care Act into law, and coverage over the weekend through Monday was heavy.
Some outlets focused on leaders, like Obama and HHS Secretary Kathleen
Sebelius, marking the occasion, while others offered analysis pieces
examining the last three years and providing a look into the future of the
law. Beyond that, several stakeholders wrote opinion pieces about the ACA,
some highly negative, some celebratory.
Sebelius Marks Third Anniversary Of ACA. The NPR   (3/23, Rovner) "Shots"
blog reported that the Affordable Care Act turned three on Saturday,
"and it seems just as divisive as the day President Obama signed
it." NPR also noted that the public seems "more confused than ever
about the law," although HHS Secretary Sebelius finds a silver lining in
that, "if knowing less means they know less of the hostile
back-and-forth, that might not be a bad idea." She says the third anniversary
of the act is "an opportunity to reset the stage." Sebelius notes
funding challenges and adds that HHS is "in the process of redoing
budgets and looking at ways we can make this effort work. Because, as the
President said, this is a top priority. ... so we will figure out a way to
move forward."
The Hill (3/22, Viebeck)
"Healthwatch" blog reported that HHS Secretary Sebelius "will
speak with volunteers around the country Saturday in celebration of
healthcare reform's third anniversary." Sebelius "will hold a
conference call with volunteers in 12 states who are preparing to enroll
millions of people in the law's insurance exchanges." The Hill points
out that Enroll America, a provider-insurer partnership, will lead enrollment
efforts that will start in October.
Obama Marks Third Anniversary Of ACA. Politico (3/23, Slack) reported that
President Obama "marked the third anniversary of Obamacare on Saturday
by touting the principle it stands for - that every American should have
access to affordable healthcare." In a statement, the President said,
"Three years ago today, I signed into law the principle that in the wealthiest
nation on Earth, no one should go broke just because they get sick. The
Affordable Care Act will give hard-working, middle class families the
healthcare security they deserve and protect every American from the worst
insurance company abuses." The President "noted that much more
needs to be done on implementation going forward, but that soon the law will
touch millions more lives" as healthcare exchanges get underway and
"prohibitions take effect against canceling or denying coverage based on
pre-existing conditions" take effect.
The Hill (3/25, Mali) "Blog Briefing
Room" summed it up: "President Obama on Saturday touted his
landmark healthcare reform law on its third anniversary, but cautioned that
there was 'more work to do to implement' its provisions."
ACA Faces Challenges As Implementation Steams Ahead. The New York Times (3/23, A10, Pear, Subscription
Publication) reported that HHS officials are "racing to set up insurance
marketplaces, or exchanges, in 33 states - more than they ever
expected," and with enrollment beginning in six months, "the amount
of work to be done is staggering, officials say." President Obama's
signing of the Affordable Care Act three years ago today was "his
biggest legislative achievement," but the Administration this week
"cautioned officials to be careful about suggesting that the law would
drive down costs." But supporters of the ACA say the President "has
done little to trumpet its benefits, educate the public or answer the
critics," though HHS Secretary Sebelius did so this week.
The Washington Post (3/24, Kliff) "Wonkblog"
reported on five of "the bigger obstacles" that the Obama
Administration faces with the ACA after its third year. The Post said the
challenges are convincing more states to expand Medicaid, building the "backbone"
of the law by having health-insurance marketplaces ready by Oct. 1,
"getting the word out" about the law to close "a big knowledge
gap" among the American public, convincing the public that it's a good
law, and "controlling healthcare costs." The Post pointed out that
the Administration's "big outreach campaign" is set to begin this
summer.
In a similar piece, Politico (3/23, Millman, Norman) reported on
"five challenges that still confront the Affordable Care Act, even three
years after it became the law of the land." These challenges are:
funding, raising awareness and understanding, countering the anti-ACA message,
Republican "rogue states," and, finally, "a tough
build-out," or setting up elaborate systems to support the law in a
short period of time.
The Hill (3/23, Baker)
"Healthwatch" blog reported in a similar piece that "Health
and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius spent the past week touting
the law's benefits ahead of its third anniversary on Saturday." However,
"HHS still faces a steep climb to fully implement the law - and sell it
to a skeptical public."
Reuters (3/25, Morgan) notes that the ACA
anniversary, coupled with approaching full implementation, has brought about
a surge of lobbying efforts to repeal various provisions of the law. For
example, medical device makers are targeting the tax on their products, and
retailers and restaurants are pushing hard against the so-called employee
mandate.
Several other outlets provided analysis pieces to mark the third anniversary
of the Affordable Care Act over the weekend, including the National Journal (3/25, Subscription Publication),
the Christian Science Monitor (3/23, Feldmann), the Boston Globe (3/25, McDonough) "Health
Stew" blog, NBC News (3/23, Fox), and the print edition
of Modern Healthcare (3/23, Daly, Subscription
Publication).
Sebelius Celebrates ACA's Third Anniversary In Op-Eds. HHS
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius marked the third anniversary of the Affordable
Care Act in a piece for the Huffington Post (3/22) blog. She wrote that since
its passage, "more than 6.3 million seniors and people with disabilities
with Medicare have saved more than $6.1 billion dollars on prescription drugs.
Nearly 71 million Americans got expanded access to preventive service at no
charge through their private insurance plans, and 47 million women now have
guaranteed access to additional preventive services without cost
sharing." In addition, "more than 3.1 million young adults who were
uninsured were able to gain coverage by being able to stay on their parents'
insurance policies until they turned 26. And parents no longer have to worry
about insurers denying coverage to their children because of a pre-existing
condition."
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius marked the third anniversary of the
Affordable Care Act in an op-ed for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (3/24). She wrote about the
benefits of the Affordable Care Act for Wisconsin residents. She said
"more than 63,550 Wisconsin Medicare beneficiaries with the highest
prescription drug costs have saved an average of $731 on their
medications," and all residents "are now protected from some of the
worst insurance industry abuses, such as lifetime coverage caps that could
cut off benefits when people need them most." She illustrated more
benefits and concluded that while "more work remains to be done...we are
moving in the right direction."
Commentary Weighs ACA On Third Anniversary. In an
editorial, the New York Times (3/24, SR12, Subscription
Publication) documented in detail the gains from 2010's Affordable Care Act
after three years. The Times said the law "has already thrown a lifeline
to people at high risk of losing insurance or being uninsured, including
young adults and people with chronic health problems, and it has made a start
toward reforming the costly, dysfunctional American healthcare system."
The editorial also applauded the ACA's "focus on improving
quality," which is says "could transform not only Medicare but the
entire healthcare system."
Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) celebrates the Affordable Care Act to mark its
third anniversary in an op-ed for the Capital Journal (3/25). He runs through a list of
benefits the law has brought to his constituents, concluding, "We have
begun a fundamental transition of a health care system that costs more than
that of any other industrialized country and yet remains inaccessible for far
too many. As we approach the next implementation milestone in 2014, I remain
committed to ensuring South Dakotans, not just the healthy and wealthy, have
access to meaningful, affordable health coverage."
In a piece marking its third anniversary, writer Scott Holleran called for
the repeal of the Affordable Care Act in an op-ed for the Washington Times (3/23). He wrote, "Former
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi once infamously declared that Congress had
to pass Obamacare to find out what was in it. As we reach the law's third
year mark, we know what's in it - and we know it is poison. The public should
reject the moral premise that health care is a right, stop the cycle and put
an end to government-run medicine before it's too late."
In a similar piece for the Washington Times (3/23), radiologist Dr. Milton R.
Wolf wrote, "The foundation of Obamacare, the justification for
fundamentally remaking America along socialist lines, is a framework of
undeniable lies. To call them anything less is not only a betrayal of truth,
it is a betrayal of America itself."
Hadley Heath, a senior policy analyst and project manager of healthcarelawsuits.org at the Independent Women's Forum,
blasts the Affordable Care Act to mark its anniversary in an opinion piece
for Forbes (3/25). She writes, "As
ObamaCare's many provisions are actually kicking in, Americans are seeing how
the law fails to live up to its promises." She concludes, "After
three years, there is still no real 'patient protection' or 'affordable care'
in this Act, and there simply isn't much to celebrate."
In an op-ed for the Brazil (IN) Times (3/25), Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN)
wrote, "Saturday, March 23, marked three years since the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed into law, yet this is
not an anniversary that deserves celebration."
Representative Ron DeSantis (R-FL) marks the anniversary in an op-ed for the Daytona Beach (FL) News-Journal (3/24), writing, "Three years
later, at a time of gargantuan budget deficits and sluggish economic growth,
the last thing Florida needs is the implementation of a vast, cumbersome and
costly bureaucracy that will hinder growth, exacerbate the nation's fiscal
problems, cause millions of Americans to lose their employer-based plans and
increase the cost of insurance for those who are lucky enough to keep their
coverage."
Despite Vote, Medical Device
Tax Unlikely To Be Repealed.
The Wall Street Journal (3/23, Peterson, Weaver,
Subscription Publication) reported that some $30 billion in lost tax revenue
is associated with a Senate vote Thursday night to repeal the ACA's 2.3% tax
on medical devices, and now Democrats who voted for the amendment are looking
for ways to replace that money. The Journal pointed out that the amendment
was to the Senate Democrats' budget, which is unlikely to pass in the House.
Moreover, the measure isn't likely to end up in a separate bill but more
likely as an element of larger discussions about the tax code.
Similarly, Politico (3/23, Haberkorn) reported that the
largely symbolic "vote-a-rama" in the Senate on Friday night on
amendments to the budget resolution left the ACA essentially the same but did
offer "important test votes for lawmakers to determine which repeal
measures might have enough support" later. Top candidates include
repealing the tax on medical device-makers and repealing the $2,500 cap and
prescription mandate for OTC medicines related to FSAs and HSAs. A
Democratic-backed measure also "would expand oral health and dental
care."
CQ (3/23, Attias, Subscription
Publication) reported that opponents of the tax are "encouraged" by
the vote, despite its nonbinding status. And to this point, Senator Orrin
Hatch (R-UT), a well-known ACA detractor and the sponsor of the repeal amendment,
said Friday, "We're going to have to find a way of making it permanent,
no question about that. But I think that sends a message that it should be
made permanent. And I'll do my best to do that."
WSJ: Medical Device Tax Will Be First Hit Of Many To ACA. In an
editorial, the Wall Street Journal (3/23, Subscription Publication)
predicted that the Affordable Care Act underwent the first of many trimmings
when the Senate voted 79-20 this week to turn back a 2.3% tax on medical
device sales in an amendment attached to the budget resolution. The Journal
noted that some usual supporters of the ACA were in the anti-tax crowd and
argued that shows the healthcare act is far from safe as it stands,
especially as it reveals itself in practice.
Contraception Mandate
Regulation Drawing Record Number Of Comments.
The Hill (3/22, Viebeck)
"Healthwatch" blog reported that the Sunlight Foundation said
Friday that the Obama Administration's "birth control rules for health
insurance coverage have drawn more comments than any other regulation across
the government," with input offered by "more than 147,000 people
and groups." The foundation "attributed the flood of comments to
the Catholic Church." The Hill added that "the next-most-commented
rules are those governing the federal pre-existing condition insurance
plan," which "drew 4,600 responses, about 30 times fewer comments
than birth control rules received."
For example, CQ (3/23, Norman, Subscription
Publication) reports that "the US Conference of Catholic Bishops issued
24 pages of objections in response to a rule the Department of Health and
Human Services proposed on employer coverage of contraceptive services under
the health care law." The comments, "filed [last] week, are sharply
critical of the proposed rule for not including some kind of exemption for
private, secular employers who have religious or moral objections to covering
birth control for their workers."
Doctors Optimistic, But Want
More Evidence About Integrated Health Systems.
Kaiser Health News (3/22, Rao) reported in its
"Capsules" health blog that physicians "say they are finding
more opportunities in the integrated health systems that have been touted in
the federal health law, such as accountable care organizations," but are
also "hesitant to change their practices without more evidence that
these systems will work." Dr. Bob Williams, a physician and national
medical leader at Deloitte, said, "There's still uncertainty about how
the financial side is going to play out," but acknowledged
"physicians also see the value in the ACA, and see the value in
improving access to care." He said about 37 percent of doctors believe
ACOs will "successfully achieve improved quality for some standards of
patient care."
Debate Continues Over ACA's
Effect On Premiums.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (3/25, Markiewicz, Williams)
reports on the debate over how full implementation of the Affordable Care Act
will affect health insurance premiums across the country. According to the
article, "some experts and studies predict sticker shock for people with
individual coverage...though others say the fears are overblown. Workers with
employer-based insurance, as well as those on Medicare and Medicaid, are
expected to feel less financial fallout."
Washington State Mulls
Requiring Insurers To Cover Abortions.
Noting
that Washington state is the only "state in the country to legalize
elective abortions by a popular vote," the AP (3/23, Kaminsky) adds that,
"Washington is once again poised to stand out" as the state
"is alone in seriously considering legislation" requiring
"insurers in Washington state who cover maternity care... to also pay
for abortions." The bill, called the Reproductive Parity Act,
"passed the state House earlier this month by a vote of 53-43, though it
faces an uncertain future in the Senate." While proponents "are
careful to stress that" the abortion mandate "wouldn't lead to a
dramatic uptick in abortions or require carriers with a religious bent to
cover the procedure," opponents claim "that the measure would
require businesses and individuals to pay for abortion coverage they'd rather
not have."
Hospitals Focus On
"Defensibility" Of Pricing Following Time Article.
Modern Healthcare (3/22, Kutscher, Subscription
Publication) reported that "healthcare systems are taking steps to
address the 'defensibility' and transparency of the way they bill for
services - an issue that came into the spotlight earlier this year in the
wake of a controversial Time magazine cover story." However, according
to the article, "it's not only uninsured patients...who are asking
questions about why their hospital bills are running in the tens of thousands
of dollars for short stays and simple procedures," but also insurers who
are focusing hospital pricing.
Public Health and Private
Healthcare Systems
Study Shows Insurers Spend Less Than 1% Of
Premiums On Improvements.
CQ (3/24, Subscription Publication)
reported on a study released by the Commonwealth Fund which found that
"health insurance companies spent an average of $29 per plan enrollee on
direct quality improvements in 2011." Further, the report "said
that amounted to less than 1 percent of the premiums that were collected from
policyholders." The focus stems from the Affordable Care Act provision
which "pushes insurers to spend less on administrative expenses and
profits and more on activities that directly benefit consumers."
The Hill (3/23, Viebeck)
"Healthwatch" blog reported further that the researchers
"found that nonprofit health plans were more likely to meet the
Affordable Care Act's requirement that at least 80 percent of premium dollars
go to patient care or quality improvement."
IOM Report Expresses Doubt In
Geographic Medicare Payments.
The New York Times (3/23, B3, Abelson, Subscription
Publication) reported that the Institute of Medicine issued an interim report
Friday that concluded "Medicare should not adjust payments on a broad
regional basis to reward hospitals and doctors that spend less to achieve
high-quality care." Committee chairman Joseph P. Newhouse, of the
Harvard School of Public Health, pointed out, "Areas don't make
decisions; doctors, hospitals and delivery systems make decisions." The
study was undertaken at the request of Secretary Sebelius, "in response
to a push by some members of Congress to revisit how Medicare pays hospitals
and doctors." A final report is likely this summer.
CQ (3/23, Reichard, Subscription
Publication) reported that the report also included general suggestions, like
this one, written in the paper: "Seeking strategies to reduce costs,
policymakers naturally wondered whether cutting payment rates to higher-cost
areas would save money without adversely affecting health quality for
Medicare beneficiaries."
Modern Healthcare (3/23, Zigmond, Subscription
Publication) added, "Commissioned by HHS, the interim report on
geographic variation includes only observations, while a full report expected
in the mid-to-late summer will provide conclusions and recommendations."
Kaiser Health News (3/23, Rau) reported that Dr.
Joseph Newhouse, a Harvard Medical School researcher who headed the panel,
said, "Areas don't make decisions. Physicians and hospitals and delivery
systems make decisions on how patients are treated. The incentives really
need to go to the decision makers." MedPage Today (3/23, Struck) also covered the
story.
Medicaid Expansion Decisions
Progress Across Country.
Over
the weekend through Monday, undecided states' movement toward opting in, or
out, of Medicaid expansion continued to garner coverage. On a national level,
the AP reports on the trend of Republican-led states shifting away from
complete opposition. At the state level, news that Tennessee Governor Bill
Haslam will likely announce his decision this week made the front page of the
New York Times. States including Virginia, Arizona, and Maine also receive
significant attention.
State-Level Republicans Shifting On Opposition To Medicaid
Expansion. The AP (3/25, Lieb) reports that after
"many Republican governors and lawmakers initially responded with an
emphatic 'no'" to expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act,
"now they are increasingly hedging their objections." In "GOP
states," some officials "are still publicly condemning" the
Medicaid expansion, "yet floating alternatives that could provide health
coverage to millions of low-income adults while potentially tapping into
billions of federal dollars that are to start flowing in 2014." But,
"many of the Republican ideas are still more wistful than
substantive," and it is unclear whether the Federal government
"will allow states to deviate too greatly from the parameters" of
the ACA.
Sebelius To Meet With Pennsylvania Governor About Medicaid
Expansion. The AP (3/23) reported that Pennsylvania
Gov. Tom Corbett expects to meet with HHS Secretary Sebelius on April 2 to
discuss Medicaid expansion. Corbett's office had no other details, but the AP
notes Corbett "says he's concerned about the cost to Pennsylvania
taxpayers and says the federal government can't be trusted to deliver on
funding promises." In contrast, "Pennsylvania's hospitals,
advocates for the poor and the AARP support it."
Haslam Expected To Give Tennessee Medicaid Expansion Decision
This Week. On its front page, the New York Times (3/25, A1, Goodnough, Subscription
Publication) reports on a yearly "health care lottery" held by the
state of Tennessee to give "medically desperate a chance to get
help," through the state's Medicaid program, TennCare. In the article,
the Times notes that Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam "has indicated that he
will decide this week whether to support an expansion of Medicaid to cover
more low-income adults, as called for in the federal health care law."
According to the article, "opponents of the health care law here, as in
other states, say Washington cannot afford to keep" its promise to pay
for most of expansion in the next several years. And, in Tennessee, the
"debate over expansion is particularly contentious because of TennCare's
tumultuous history."
The Wall Street Journal (3/25, Radnofsky, Subscription
Publication) reports that while Haslam and Republican legislative leaders
oppose the expansion of the state's Medicaid program, the decision is proving
difficult as the healthcare industry, which adds some $30 billion to the
Nashville area's economy each year, is urging lawmakers to accept the Federal
dollars that come with an expansion. The Journal notes that Haslam has been
considering a possible compromise under which the state would expand Medicaid
and hospitals would agree to cut the costs of treating the newly covered.
Providing further background, the AP (3/24, Schelzig) reported that
"Tennessee is approaching the [Medicaid expansion] carrot warily partly
because of its experience as a pioneer in expanding Medicaid to cover the
uninsured back in the 1990s. Federal funding for that expansion was cut after
the White House and governorship changed hands." According to the piece,
"that history is one reason Gov. Bill Haslam is among the last
Republican governors to decide whether to expand Medicaid. He has said he
will make his recommendation by the end of the month - though he acknowledges
that it's far from certain that lawmakers will approve his choice."
Two local papers report on organizations lending support to Medicaid
expansion in Tennessee. For example, the Kingsport (TN) Times-News (3/25, Hayes) reports, "Both
Wellmont Health System and Mountain States Health Alliance (MSHA), the
region's two major hospital groups, have been lobbying for the
expansion."
And the Bristol (TN/VA) Herald Courier (3/25) reports, "A study
commissioned by the AARP finds that Tennessee would reap nearly $30 for every
dollar spent on expanding Medicaid."
Virginia Still Weighing Medicaid Expansion Options. The Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch (3/24, Martz) reported on
Virginia's proposed pilot project to compare how some 78,000 people fare over
three years in five regions when they "are eligible for both the federal
Medicare program for the elderly and the federal-state Medicaid program for
the poor, disabled and aged." The "duel-eligible" residents
represent "the front line of a political battle" over Medicaid
expansion, while the pilot project "is the linchpin in a series of
pending reforms that policymakers want accomplished before allowing" the
expansion. The Times-Dispatch noted that "the path to complete Medicaid
reform is likely to be long" in Virginia.
Further, the Washington Examiner (3/25, Contorno) reports,
"Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell won't rule out altering a bipartisan
agreement to expand Medicaid coverage in the state, despite Democrats'
insistence that McDonnell had promised not to mess with the deal."
In related Virginia news, the Washington Post (3/23, Vozzella) reported,
"The General Assembly's landmark transportation-funding overhaul and a
Medicaid deal that Democrats linked to it are unconstitutional, according to
two legal opinions Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II issued
Friday." Cuccinelli's opinions, "requested by a state delegate who
derailed the last ambitious road-funding plan, do not necessarily doom either
bill, because they are only advisory. But they could give Gov. Robert F.
McDonnell (R) pause ahead of Monday's deadline to veto or propose amendments
to the legislation."
The Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch (3/25, Martz) reports that
"Cuccinelli emphasized that the advisory opinions are based on law
rather than the policy merits, but he has strongly opposed Medicaid expansion
and the taxes imposed by the transportation legislation as he prepares to run
for governor while remaining attorney general."
Iowa Senate To Debate Medicaid Expansion Monday. On its
website, KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids, IA (3/25, Earl)
reports that, on Monday, "three years to the week since the
Democrat-controlled Congress passed the Affordable Care Act of 2010, the Iowa
Senate will try and move ahead on the next step to expand Medicaid throughout
the state." Beginning at 5pm, "the Senate will be open to the
public to listen in as Democrats and Republicans debate the state's proper
role." KCRG-TV notes that Gov. Terry Branstad "has been very vocal
against Medicaid expansion in the state," claiming "that Iowa
taxpayers could get stuck with the cost if the federal government does not
pay for its stated financial obligation."
The Waterloo and Cedar Falls (IA) Courier (3/23, Jamison) reported that Iowa
"Gov. Terry Branstad's Medicaid expansion alternative took a beating
Friday during the session's last local legislative forum here." Although
"full details of the Healthy Iowa Plan have not been released," the
Courier noted that "early reports indicate it would cover roughly 89,000
uninsured Iowans, while Medicaid expansion is estimated to cover 150,000
uninsured Iowans." The Courier added that "many speakers voiced
concern about the lack a bill to date given the approaching session's
end."
The Quad-City (IA) Times (3/25, Ickes) reports that
attendees at a Davenport Community School Board meeting "were encouraged
to contact Gov. Terry Branstad and express their support of the Senate
Democrats' plan to pass a Medicaid expansion bill." Although "Branstad
said he objects to the Medicaid expansion because he does not have faith in
the federal government to follow through with promises of paying 100 percent
of the cost of new enrollees for the first three years," Rep. Jim Lykam
(D-IA) "said he wonders why the governor is skeptical of the Medicaid
payments, given that about $5 billion of Iowa's budget comes from the federal
government."
Arizona Legislature Working Toward Medicaid Expansion Decision. The Arizona Republic (3/24, Reinhart) reported that
"the next few weeks could prove critical in determining the direction of
Arizona's debate over Medicaid expansion, setting the stage for months of
interparty rancor or a relatively smooth transition into a critical phase of
federal health-care reform." State lawmakers "have the framework of
Gov. Jan Brewer's proposal to expand eligibility for the state-federal
health-insurance program for low-income and disabled people, but Republican
leaders still must decide how - or whether - to amend the legislation to get
the governor's top legislative priority through the House and Senate and to
her desk."
Medicaid Expansion In Trouble In Michigan. The AP (3/24) reports that Rep. Matt Lori
(R-MI) "found himself in an unusual position when shepherding through a
$15.3 billion health budget that pays for Medicaid." Although Lori
"favored GOP Gov. Rick Snyder's proposal to make hundreds of thousands
of more residents Medicaid-eligible under the federal health overhaul,"
he "left Medicaid expansion out of the spending bill last week because
it lacks enough backing among Republicans." Noting that Snyder and his
supporters have "two months until a self-imposed June 1 budget
deadline" to persuade the GOP-controlled Legislature to expand Medicaid,
the AP adds that "he has his work cut out for him."
AnnArbor (3/25, Stanton) reports that the
Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti (A2Y) Regional Chamber is "calling on state
lawmakers to include Medicaid expansion in the state of Michigan's fiscal
year 2014 budget." In a statement, Doug McClure, chairman of the
chamber's Public Policy Committee, "argued there's a strong business
case to be made for the expansion." Noting that "Gov. Rick Snyder's
proposal to expand Medicaid to roughly 470,000 Michigan residents hasn't been
well received by Republicans in the Michigan Legislature," the chamber
claimed "the benefits to business and the broader community are
numerous."
Idaho Lawmakers Won't Tackle Medicaid Expansion In 2013 Session.
The AP (3/25, Miller) reports that,
according to an state-financed report released this week, "expanding
Medicaid to cover more low-income Idaho residents could save state and local
taxpayers tens of millions over the next decade." House Speaker Scott
Bedke (R-ID) revealed that "lawmakers won't tackle the issue during the
2013 session due to end next week," because "there isn't enough
time left" to properly vet the issue. However, House Minority Leader
John Rusche (D-ID) claimed that "politics are what's going to block
it."
In the same article, the AP (3/25, Miller) reports that, under
the direction of Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, "the Idaho
Department of Health and Welfare has been working... to secure an agreement
from the federal government to allow the state to modify how its Medicaid
program would cover an expanded population." The AP adds that,
"among other things, Health and Welfare Director Dick Armstrong is
seeking changes that promote patient responsibility and encourages providers
to focus on outcomes, rather than simply providing services for which they
can bill the government." On Friday, Armstrong indicated that "he's
optimistic about winning an agreement from the US Department of Health and
Human Services and believes he could have a new program in place during
2014."
Republican Lawmakers Mull Medicaid Expansion Bill In Missouri. The South County (MO) Mail (3/25, Butler) reports that,
"although Republican legislative leaders have issued statements
attacking Medicaid expansion, one of their key committees has scheduled two
days of hearings on a plan" proposed by Rep. Jay Barnes (R-MO)
"that would expand Medicaid as well as making fundamental changes to the
Medicaid system - suggesting the idea of expansion is not yet dead in
Missouri's Capitol." Barnes' bill "would cut a large number of children
from the program and expand Medicaid eligibility, but not to the extent set
by the federal law."
Bangor Chamber Endorses Medicaid Expansion In Maine. The AP (3/23) reported that "the
Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce says it's endorsing an expansion of
Medicaid in Maine." Although elected officials in Maine "have not
decided yet whether the state will accept the federal offer," Gov. Paul
LePage "wants the federal government to guarantee 10 years of funding at
100 percent if the state is to accept Medicaid expansion." According to
the Bangor chamber, MaineCare "will help low-income workers obtain
affordable health coverage and will likely reduce charitable care costs in
the health care system, costs that are often shifted to other payers."
"Arkansas Plan" For Medicaid Expansion Moves Forward. The Fort Smith (AR) City Wire (3/25) reports that Rep. Charlie
Collins (R-AR) "told a hometown audience on Friday" that Medicaid
expansion "is dead," adding that "the framework for a phoenix
plan is alive, under construction, and receiving a lot of attention."
Noting that Arkansas "lawmakers will have to pass an appropriations
bill... to allow the money for the effort to be spent starting in 2014,"
the City Wire adds that "the second part of the 'Arkansas plan' equation
is to draft a comprehensive bill that outlines how the state's flexibility
from the feds in the exchange will be deployed." Republican lawmakers
"expressed general satisfaction with the initial framework"
proposed by Gov. Mike Beebe (D).
Mississippi Lawmakers Mull Fallout If Medicaid Is Not Expanded. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (3/25, Harrison) reports that,
according to Gov. Phil Bryant's spokesman Mick Bullock and "key
legislators," it is "too early to say for certain whether the state
would provide funds to hospitals that would experience financial shortfalls
if Mississippi doesn't expand its Medicaid program." Although
Mississippi "leaders have not given definitive answers when asked if
they would support providing additional state funds," House
Appropriations Chairman Herb Frierson (R-MS) and Senate Appropriations Chairman
Buck Clarke (R-MS) "indicated it is unlikely Mississippi will use state
money to offset the loss of federal funds." Clarke claims that, "if
additional state money were directed to hospitals to offset the loss of
federal funds, it would be part of a larger overhaul of the state Medicaid
program."
Study: Despite Minnesota Medicaid Expansion, Some Will Still
Lack Healthcare. Minnesota Public Radio (3/23, Stawicki) reported that,
according to a University of Minnesota study, "one out of every 10
low-income people living in the state will still lack access to government
health care coverage, despite the Medicaid expansion under the federal health
care law." Researcher Lynn Blewett revealed that, although the
Affordable Care Act expands government coverage, "there will still be
low-income people without access to coverage: illegal immigrants, who are
excluded from government programs, and some residents who are in the United
States legally but have not been here long enough."
Michigan Officials To Hold
Forum Series On Medicaid Funding Changes.
Noting
that "the governmental pipeline that delivers federal Medicaid dollars
to mental health and substance abuse patients in Muskegon County is
shifting," MLive (3/25, Kloosterman) reports that,
in response, "Community Mental Health Services of Muskegon County is
holding a series of forums to talk about the change and how it will affect
the care people receive." The change is expected to affect "how the
Medicaid dollars are being distributed" to Prepaid Inpatient Health
Plans (PIHPs), which "receive and pass on federal Medicaid funds
distributed by the Michigan Department of Community Health." MLines
notes that "administrators anticipate a more standardized service and
efficient operations coming from the change."
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