Category: CMS
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Virginia legislators harden line against Medicaid expansion
And in Georgia, protesters who had conducted a “sit in” at Gov. Nathan Deal’s office to press him to accept a letter urging expansion of the state’s Medicaid program, are arrested. …read more
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When cut from Medicare advantage plans, doctors face dilemma about patients
In the meantime, Medicare is trying to crack down on habitual overcharging by some doctors. …read more
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State highlights: N.Y. revises its request for Medicaid adjustment; transplant waiting periods for new coverage in Wash.
A selection of health policy stories from New York, Washington state, California, Virginia, Idaho, Connecticut and Georgia. …read more
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Some consumers finding surprises as they explore health law implementation
Many plans offered on the health marketplaces will take an unexpected chunk out of consumers’ wallets, Politico reports. Meanwhile, The Associated Press examines a dilemma for some parents who find that their children qualify for Medicaid and can’t go on the same plan as the parents. …read more
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Viewpoints: Consumers awakening to health law’s ‘perverse incentives;’ Medicaid expansion could help Dems in mid-term elections; new ‘devious tactic’ in smoking
With fewer glitches to deter them, millions of Americans are now logging on to the ObamaCare health-insurance-exchange websites. When they get there, many are discovering some unpleasant surprises: …read more
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GAO: Most Medicare advantage plans meet medical expense standard
The federal health law requires the plans to pay out at least 85 percent of their premium dollars on medical expenses, or refund the excess revenue to the government. …read more
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Mayors also have a stake in the Medicaid expansion’s ‘promise and pitfalls’
This health law topic is high on the agenda of this week’s U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Washington. Meanwhile, Utah’s Gov. Gary Herbert said he will pursue some form of the expansion. Also in the news, related developments in Montana and Missouri. …read more
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Medicaid ‘death debt’ causes some to step away from coverage
A little-known aspect of Medicaid allows states, in certain cases, to recoup medical costs by claiming deceased people’s homes, which is causing some people to avoid coverage, even those who are newly eligible under the health law’s expanded eligibility. …read more
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Big jump in Medicaid signups reported
More than 6.3 million people were found eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program since October, but it is unclear how many are newly insured since recipients must re-enroll each year. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urges mayors to push their states to expand the program. News outlets also look…
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Arkansas official: No back-up if ‘private option’ Medicaid expansion is blocked
The head of Arkansas’ Department of Human Services said he doesn’t have an alternative budget if lawmakers block the state’s Medicaid expansion plan when they reconvene next month. …read more