Taking the Pulse, A Health Care and Life Sciences Video Podcast | Episode 187: South Carolina Hospitals and Healthcare Industry Trends with Thornton Kirby, SCHA President
CBO says the House repeal and replace bill could destabilize the individual insurance market in some states; Indiana posts a work requirement amendment to its Medicaid expansion waiver application; and states allow insurers...more
HealthCare.gov enrollment is down, while State-based Marketplace enrollment is up at the end of 2017 open enrollment; Hawaii, Massachusetts and Oregon introduce legislation to codify ACA reforms in state law in case of...more
The National Association of Medicaid Directors offers policy considerations and recommendations to the incoming Administration; HealthCare.gov has its largest single day of enrollment ever; and new publications prepared by...more
CMS releases a wave of new regulations and guidance for Medicaid and CHIP; Michigan receives CMS approval for a lead abatement initiative; and Utah continues to push for its limited expansion of Medicaid coverage....more
HealthCare.gov consumers begin previewing 2017 coverage options as HHS projects a 9% enrollment increase over last year and an average 22% benchmark premium increase; Oregon study finds increased primary care spending in...more
Kentucky receives final approval from CMS to transition its Marketplace to the HealthCare.gov platform; Ohio puts a prescription drug price ceiling on its November 2017 ballot; and a new study links Medicaid expansion to...more
The national uninsurance rate hits a record low; Georgia’s Chamber of Commerce outlines three Medicaid expansion proposals; and California legislation targets surprise medical bills. FEDERAL AND STATE MARKETPLACE NEWS: ...more
A federal report finds that Marketplace premiums are lower in expansion states; Massachusetts and Pennsylvania launch prescription drug monitoring systems; and Kentucky submits a slightly modified Medicaid expansion waiver to...more
HealthCare.gov plans an open enrollment pilot that will let consumers compare provider network breadth; new Medicaid enrollees reduce out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs by nearly 60%; and Kansas’s Governor announces...more
Massachusetts extends coverage of Hepatitis C treatments and New Hampshire extends substance use disorder coverage to more Medicaid enrollees; Alaska’s Medicaid expansion now moves ahead uncontested; and CMS reports...more
CMS targets short-term insurance plans in efforts to stabilize the individual market risk pool; Illinois mandates Medicaid coverage for opioid addiction treatment; and Michigan seeks to restructure State Medicaid financing....more
Oregon decides to stick with HealthCare.gov’s enrollment platform; North Dakota re-examines Medicaid expansion as 2017 sunset approaches; and Vermont establishes a special enrollment period for pregnancy....more
Rhode Island's Medicaid reforms will save the State $75 million this year; HHS finds that Medicaid expansion improves behavioral healthcare; and California's Marketplace may exclude poor performing hospitals from its QHP...more
STATE STAFFING UPDATES: Nevada: New Insurance Commissioner Appointed - The Director of Nevada's Department and Industry announced Barbara Richardson as the Commissioner of the Division of Insurance. Richardson...more
CMS details requirements for Kentucky's transition to HealthCare.gov; a new special enrollment period is established for subsidy-eligible individuals who failed to file their 2014 taxes; and President Obama sends his final...more
Virginia submits a $1 billion DSRIP application; Michigan's Governor will request authority to extend Medicaid coverage to Flint residents aged 21 and under; and Hawaii reinstates small business tax credits in its updated...more
Louisiana's Governor pushes ahead on Medicaid expansion, while expansion is blocked by Wyoming's Legislature; Massachusetts plans to submit a 1332 waiver application to preserve its merged markets; and CBO lowers its 2016...more
Minnesota's Task Force recommends maintaining their State-based Marketplace while Oregon considers bringing back theirs; CMS narrows the criteria for special enrollment periods; and President Obama seeks an extension of full...more
Kansas legislators supportive of Medicaid expansion are pulled from committee; Montana’s Medicaid expansion is off to a strong start; and New Mexico sees declines in uncompensated care since ACA implementation....more
Montana receives approval to expand Medicaid beginning 2016; California’s $6.2 billion Medicaid waiver receives pre-approval; and HHS proposes broadening circumstances under which states receive enhanced federal matching...more
Iowa's largest insurer joins the State's Marketplace for coverage year 2017; carrier changes are announced for Marketplaces in Kentucky, Oklahoma and Wyoming; and South Dakota's Governor convenes the Health Care Solutions...more
Congress passes a bill to give states greater flexibility in defining “small businesses”; South Dakota seeks to offset Medicaid expansion costs in part with increased use of the fully federally-funded Indian Health Service;...more
Increased plan choice on HealthCare.gov is linked to lower premium growth; Arizona seeks changes to Medicaid expansion; and California and New York release detailed Marketplace and Medicaid enrollment reports....more
In quick succession, governors in Alaska and Utah announce Medicaid expansions this week; Iowa is transitioning its expansion away from the Marketplace to Medicaid managed care, for now; and, HHS extends its exception to...more
CMS releases new redetermination regulations and links uncompensated care funds to expanding Medicaid, and New York becomes the second state to launch the Basic Health Program. ...more