Molina Sues N.M. After Being Dropped From Medicaid Managed Care Program
Molina, which provides managed care to about 225,000 Medicaid recipients in the state, was one of two companies currently in the program to be cut out of the new contract. Also in the news, Democrats in New Mexico are pushing a plan to allow uninsured people to buy Medicaid coverage, Oregon may soon face new questions about funding its Medicaid expansion and Ohio Medicaid officials fund programs to end infant mortality in Cuyahoga County.
The New Mexican:
Molina Healthcare Sues State Over Loss Of Medicaid Contract
A health care company said Wednesday it filed a lawsuit challenging its loss of a state contract to manage services for Medicaid recipients. Molina Healthcare of New Mexico said its lawsuit, filed in state District Court in Santa Fe, alleges numerous contracting irregularities by the state Human Services Department. Molina also said a contracting consultant used by the department had a conflict of interest. It said the consultant has financial ties to a company affiliated with a winning bidder for the Medicaid work. (Cole, 1/31)
Albuquerque (N.M.) Journal:
Molina Sues State Over Loss Of Medicaid Contract
Earlier this month, HSD announced the winners of the state’s five-year Medicaid contract known as Centennial Care 2.0, a list that did not include Molina. The loss of the contract will slash hundreds of millions of dollars from the Molina’s premium revenues, according to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing. (Baca, 1/31)
The Associated Press:
New Mexico Democrats Push Allowing Medicaid Buy-In Coverage
A Democratic-led push to expand health care coverage by allowing almost anyone to buy into Medicaid is gaining ground in New Mexico amid Republican efforts in Washington to dismantle Obamacare. The state Legislature is considering initial studies and steps toward opening up access to Medicaid services through a fee to individuals and possibly employers. The concept involves redirecting federal subsidies for coverage in the marketplaces created under former President Barack Obama's health care law to a new category of Medicaid, the program for the poor. It has the backing of a coalition of local public health advocacy groups. (Lee, 1/31)
East Oregonian:
Measure 101 Victory Doesn’t End Medicaid Funding Woes
On Jan. 23, Oregon voters approved Measure 101, which contained a slate of taxes on insurers and health care providers to help the state fund the program, which covers low-income people and other qualifying groups. But due to the temporary nature of the taxes and shrinking federal financial support, state policymakers could in a year face other significant funding hurdles for the program — to the tune of more than $1 billion. Medicaid is jointly funded by the state and federal government and covers just under a million Oregonians. It’s known here as the Oregon Health Plan. (Withycombe, 1/31)
cleveland.com:
First Year Cleveland, County Programs To Receive Another $3M In Medicaid Funding To Combat Infant Mortality
The Ohio Department of Medicaid has announced $3 million in new funding to combat infant mortality in Cuyahoga County, part of $26.8 million dedicated over the next two years to nine Ohio cities and counties. First Year Cleveland, the city-county infant mortality initiative, will receive $2.86 million of the funding, with the remaining $237,595 going to the Centers for Families and Children, according to Ohio Medicaid. (Zeltner, 1/31)