Michigan’s Medicaid Work Requirement Advances On Expected Path To Approval
The state is just the latest to move toward adding more restrictions to its program, something governors and legislatures are jumping on since CMS signaled its willingness to grant waivers. Medicaid news comes out of Virginia, Texas, Florida and Mississippi, as well.
The Associated Press:
Revised Medicaid Work Requirement Bill Moves In Michigan
More than 500,000 able-bodied, nonelderly adults in Michigan's Medicaid expansion program would have to work or meet related requirements to keep qualifying for government health insurance under a revised bill that cleared a major legislative hurdle on Wednesday and is expected to become law. The Republican-controlled House voted 62-47, almost entirely along party lines, to advance the measure back to the GOP-led Senate, which could vote as soon as Thursday. If Gov. Rick Snyder signs it into law, as expected, then starting in 2020, adults age 18 to 62 would have to show workforce engagement averaging 80 hours a month — work, school, job or vocational training, an internship, substance abuse treatment or community service. (Eggert, 6/6)
Detroit Free Press:
Bill Forcing Michigan Medicaid Recipients To Work Nears Final OK
The Republican effort to add work requirements mirrors actions in many other states that is making the Medicaid expansion that was allowed under the Affordable Care Act a little more difficult for low-income individuals to get. But the bill is a compromise from what was initially proposed, which included a 29-hour workweek requirement and a controversial provision that would allow counties that had unemployment rates of 8.5% or more to be exempt from the work requirements. That would primarily benefit rural counties, but not urban cities such as Detroit, Flint and Saginaw that are in counties that have lower overall unemployment rates. (Gray, 6/6)
The Associated Press:
Northam To Sign Budget, Medicaid Expansion
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is set to sign a new state budget that will expand Medicaid to as many as 400,000 low-income adults. The General Assembly voted last week to approve the budget with Medicaid expansion. The vote ended a long-running partisan stalemate over the issue, with several Republicans joining Democrats to support the measure. Northam, a Democrat, made expanding Medicaid a key plank of his successful 2017 gubernatorial campaign. He’s scheduled to sign the budget bills on the steps outside the state Capitol Thursday afternoon. (6/7)
Dallas Morning News:
Texas Pays Companies Billions For ‘Sham Networks’ Of Doctors
The companies Texas hires to care for its sickest citizens — foster children, chronically ailing kids, elderly and disabled adults — have been vastly overstating the number of doctors and specialists available to treat them. In their published networks, the companies include many physicians who aren’t taking new patients, don’t accept government-funded health plans, or aren’t even treating Texans anymore. And state health officials know it. (McSwane and Chavez, 6/4)
CBS:
Health Plan To Challenge Medicaid Contracts
A decision last week to award Medicaid contracts to two additional managed-care plans could mean more legal challenges for the state Agency for Health Care Administration. Attorneys for Molina Healthcare filed a notice with the state Tuesday announcing the HMO’s intention to challenge the agency’s decision last Thursday to award contracts to Miami Children’s Health Plan and Lighthouse Health Plan.The HMO has 10 days to file a legal petition with the state. (Sexton, 6/6)
The Associated Press:
Funding For Effort That Enrolls People In Medicaid Uncertain
Funding for a University of Southern Mississippi effort to enroll uninsured and low-income Pine Belt residents in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program is uncertain. The Hattiesburg American reports the university has had a $1 million grant since mid-2016 from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services to enroll children in CHIP and adults in Medicaid and Marketplace insurance. However, the grant cycle is set to end June 30. (6/6)