Medicaid Archives - DR News - News, Retirement, Finance

Oral Health Advocacy: New Policy on Medicare and Medicaid Dental Benefits Explored in Live Conversation with CareQuest Institute CEO

Washington, D.C. – As a country at the forefront of health care advancements, the United States has made significant progress in treating and preventing many diseases. However, one area that often gets overlooked is oral health. For many Americans, access to oral health care is not a luxury but a fundamental right that should be available to all, regardless of their background or zip code. In a recent interview for the “Chew on This” livestream …

Subsidy Enhancements and Medicaid Renewal: Biden Administration’s Healthcare Overhaul

Washington, D.C. – The Biden administration has taken significant steps to improve access to affordable healthcare. One of the key initiatives is the enhancement of premium tax credits to assist individuals in purchasing health coverage. This increase in funding for outreach and consumer assistance aims to raise awareness about available subsidies and guide individuals through the application process. Additionally, states are beginning to transition Medicaid enrollees to marketplace plans, as the pandemic-related requirement to maintain …

Medicaid Expansion Provides Critical Health Coverage to 600,000 North Carolina Adults

RALEIGH, N.C. – A bipartisan decision in North Carolina has opened up Medicaid benefits to over 600,000 adults who were previously ineligible, marking a significant shift in a state that had long resisted the expansion. The move, which took effect in December after being signed into law in March 2023, makes North Carolina the 40th state to adopt the Medicaid expansion. This change is significant as it demonstrates a shift in the attitude toward the …

Texas Advocates Urge FTC Probe into Deloitte’s Medicaid Software Errors

Austin, Texas – A coalition of privacy, technology, and health care advocates filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission urging an investigation into Deloitte Consulting LLP. They claim that hundreds of thousands of Texans were wrongly denied Medicaid coverage due to errors in the consulting firm’s eligibility software. Deloitte provides software that determines an applicant’s Medicaid eligibility in 20 states, including Texas. The National Health Law Program, one of three groups behind the complaint, …

DeSantis Vetoed $1.75M for Medicaid Program Assessments in Florida

Tallahassee, Florida – The state of Florida has allocated significant funds towards promoting healthcare price transparency in recent years. However, Governor Ron DeSantis has recently vetoed a $750,000 budget allocation aimed at conducting an independent study to assess the effectiveness of the data collection efforts currently in place within the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration. The proposed study, directed by the Legislature, was intended to analyze all costs associated with healthcare tools over the …

Medicaid Shake-Up Looms: Texas Officials Reject Insurers’ Attempts to Cancel Proposal

Austin, Texas – Texas officials faced backlash on Thursday as they rejected proposals from major insurers to drop nearly 2 million low-income Texans from the state’s Medicaid program. The controversial decision would shake up the coverage of needy families, sparking criticism from various stakeholders. The $116 billion Medicaid contracts intended to be awarded by the end of summer would eliminate three major health plans operated by nonprofit children’s hospitals in Texas. This move would impact …

Medicaid Waivers Could Fund Nutrition and Housing in Colorado: A Game-Changer for Public Health

Denver, Colorado is on the brink of potentially pioneering a new approach to utilizing Medicaid funds for non-healthcare related expenses, joining a growing number of states exploring this innovative option. The Biden administration has begun approving waivers that allow Medicaid dollars to be used for nutrition and housing assistance, recognizing the critical impact that factors like living conditions and diet have on overall health. According to Jake Williams, the CEO of Healthier Colorado, access to …

Colorado Health Clinics Facing Surge in Uninsured Patients Amid Medicaid Coverage Loss

Littleton, Colorado – Health clinics in Colorado are grappling with a surge in uninsured patients, marking the highest numbers since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act a decade ago. Leaders in the state are expressing concerns about the need to address the growing population lacking coverage. Following the completion of Medicaid coverage reviews in Colorado, a large portion of the half-million individuals who lost their coverage did not complete the necessary paperwork, leaving the …

Georgians Prosper with Medicaid Expansion: Economic Benefits Await Closing Coverage Gap

Atlanta, Georgia – Nearly half a million residents in Georgia, including small business owners, farmers, veterans, and part-time, hourly, and gig workers, find themselves in a coverage gap where they cannot afford private health insurance nor qualify for Medicaid. Closing this gap is not only crucial for healthcare policy but also for economic policy, benefiting all Georgians by fostering a healthier and more productive workforce. Recent research conducted by the Georgia Health Initiative revealed that …

Medicaid Policy Expert Emma Sandoe to Lead Oregon’s Medicaid Program

Portland, Oregon – Emma Sandoe, a deputy director of Medicaid policy in North Carolina, has been appointed to lead Oregon’s Medicaid program starting July 24. With a two-year budget of $28 billion, the program serves 1.4 million low-income individuals, providing essential medical, dental, and mental health care to over a quarter of Oregon’s population. Sandoe’s extensive experience includes serving as North Carolina’s liaison to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, focusing on health …