INSIDER
Jacksonville City Council fails resolution that called for Medicaid expansion
Read full article: Jacksonville City Council fails resolution that called for Medicaid expansionIn September, Jacksonville City Councilmember Rahman Johnson introduced a resolution that highlighted what he said is a pressing need for broader healthcare coverage in Duval County. The resolution would have called upon state legislators to work toward Medicaid expansion.
Elevance makes a late cut to its 2024 forecast after seeing trouble in Medicaid
Read full article: Elevance makes a late cut to its 2024 forecast after seeing trouble in MedicaidElevance Health surprised Wall Street with a rare, late-year guidance cut Thursday after a jump in Medicaid costs marred its third quarter.
Voters with disabilities are feeling ignored by presidential candidates
Read full article: Voters with disabilities are feeling ignored by presidential candidatesA new report from Rutgers University estimates that about 40.2 million eligible voters in the quickly approaching U.S. presidential election are disabled.
Judge refuses to extend timeframe for Georgia's new Medicaid plan, only one with work requirement
Read full article: Judge refuses to extend timeframe for Georgia's new Medicaid plan, only one with work requirementA federal judge has ruled that the Biden administration complied with the law when it declined to grant an extension to Georgia’s year-old Medicaid plan, which is the only one in the country that has a work requirement for recipients of the publicly funded health coverage for low-income people.
Can a Medicaid plan that requires work succeed? First year of Georgia experiment is not promising
Read full article: Can a Medicaid plan that requires work succeed? First year of Georgia experiment is not promisingBy now, Georgia officials expected their new Medicaid plan to provide health insurance to 25,000 low income residents.
North Carolina's Medicaid expansion program has enrolled 500,000 people in just 7 months
Read full article: North Carolina's Medicaid expansion program has enrolled 500,000 people in just 7 monthsMore than 500,000 North Carolina residents have enrolled in state's Medicaid expansion program in the seven months since it was launched.
Forced labor, same-sex marriage and shoplifting are all on the ballot in California this November
Read full article: Forced labor, same-sex marriage and shoplifting are all on the ballot in California this NovemberForced labor, same-sex marriage and shoplifting are among the 10 statewide ballot measures California voters will consider.
With 1 out of 3 Californians on Medicaid, doctors push ballot measure to force state to pay more
Read full article: With 1 out of 3 Californians on Medicaid, doctors push ballot measure to force state to pay moreCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to back out of a deal he made last year to pay doctors more money to treat Medicaid patients.
How opioid prescriptions to Medicaid patients in Florida stack up
Read full article: How opioid prescriptions to Medicaid patients in Florida stack upAlmost 20 years after the first wave of opioid overdose deaths in the U.S., more than 75% of drug overdose fatalities were connected to opioid use in 2021, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
California governor criticized for proposal to eliminate health benefit for some disabled immigrants
Read full article: California governor criticized for proposal to eliminate health benefit for some disabled immigrantsCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing criticism for his proposal to eliminate an optional Medicaid benefit for some disabled immigrants.
Tennessee, Delaware to become first states to offer free diapers for Medicaid families
Read full article: Tennessee, Delaware to become first states to offer free diapers for Medicaid familiesTennessee will soon become the first state in the country to offer free diapers to families enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program after receiving federal approval, state officials have confirmed.
Biden administration says 100,000 new migrants are expected to enroll in 'Obamacare' next year
Read full article: Biden administration says 100,000 new migrants are expected to enroll in 'Obamacare' next yearRoughly 100,000 immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children are expected to enroll in the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance next year.
Mississippi Medicaid expansion plan could struggle for bipartisan support, Democratic leader says
Read full article: Mississippi Medicaid expansion plan could struggle for bipartisan support, Democratic leader saysThe Mississippi House Democratic leader says a Medicaid expansion plan endorsed by Republican leaders could struggle for bipartisan support.
West Virginia's and North Carolina's transgender care coverage policies discriminate, judges rule
Read full article: West Virginia's and North Carolina's transgender care coverage policies discriminate, judges ruleA federal appeals court has ruled that West Virginia's and North Carolina’s refusal to cover certain health care for transgender people with government-sponsored insurance is discriminatory.
Mississippi lawmakers haggle over possible Medicaid expansion as their legislative session nears end
Read full article: Mississippi lawmakers haggle over possible Medicaid expansion as their legislative session nears endTop Mississippi lawmakers have started negotiating on what could become a landmark plan to expand Medicaid coverage to tens of thousands of people in one of the poorest states in the U.S. But even with Republicans controlling both the state House and Senate, it’s far from clear that they will reach a compromise.
One-fourth of people dropped from Medicaid still aren't insured, survey shows
Read full article: One-fourth of people dropped from Medicaid still aren't insured, survey showsA new survey shows that almost a quarter of people who have been dropped from Medicaid during post-pandemic eligibility reviews are still uninsured.
Idaho considers a ban on using public funds or facilities for gender-affirming care
Read full article: Idaho considers a ban on using public funds or facilities for gender-affirming careIdaho lawmakers are expected to vote on a bill that would ban the use of any public funds for gender-affirming care, including for state employees using work health insurance and for adults covered by Medicaid.
Arizona legislation to better regulate rehab programs targeted by Medicaid scams is moving forward
Read full article: Arizona legislation to better regulate rehab programs targeted by Medicaid scams is moving forwardA Navajo state senator in Arizona says she's hoping for final approval of her bill to tighten regulations for rehab facilities amid widespread fraud that has bilked hundreds of millions in Medicaid dollars.
Mississippi has the nation's worst infant mortality. It will allow earlier Medicaid to help babies
Read full article: Mississippi has the nation's worst infant mortality. It will allow earlier Medicaid to help babiesMississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has signed a new law that will allow women to receive Medicaid coverage earlier in pregnancy.
Mississippi eyes quicker Medicaid coverage in pregnancy to try to reduce deaths of moms and babies
Read full article: Mississippi eyes quicker Medicaid coverage in pregnancy to try to reduce deaths of moms and babiesMississippi could start providing Medicaid coverage earlier in pregnancy in a bid to improve health outcomes for moms and babies.
'Obamacare' sign-ups surge to 20 million, days before open enrollment closes
Read full article: 'Obamacare' sign-ups surge to 20 million, days before open enrollment closesThe Biden administration says 20 million people have enrolled for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces, with still a few days left for signing up.
A push to expand Medicaid has Kansas governor embracing politics and cutting against her brand
Read full article: A push to expand Medicaid has Kansas governor embracing politics and cutting against her brandDemocratic Gov. Laura Kelly is more aggressive and openly political in pushing to expand Medicaid in Kansas as the Republican-controlled Legislature prepares to open its annual session.
There's a glimmer of hope for broader health coverage in Georgia, but also a good chance of a fizzle
Read full article: There's a glimmer of hope for broader health coverage in Georgia, but also a good chance of a fizzleLong-held Republican opposition to broader health care coverage may be softening in Georgia and Mississippi.
Families say autism therapy helped their kids. Indiana's Medicaid cuts could put it out of reach
Read full article: Families say autism therapy helped their kids. Indiana's Medicaid cuts could put it out of reachStarting with the new year, Indiana will implement a universal reimbursement rate for a therapy commonly used by children with autism, at a rate significantly less than what healthcare providers received on average in the past.
The Biden administration is slow to act as millions are booted off Medicaid, advocates say
Read full article: The Biden administration is slow to act as millions are booted off Medicaid, advocates sayError-ridden state reviews have purged millions of the poorest Americans from the Medicaid program in recent months.
It's time to buy health insurance through the marketplace. Experts suggest doing your research first
Read full article: It's time to buy health insurance through the marketplace. Experts suggest doing your research firstThe time to shop for health insurance on the Affordable Care Act’s coverage marketplaces is back.
‘It’s been horrible’: More residents report issues with medical transportation provided by Medicaid, say it’s unreliable
Read full article: ‘It’s been horrible’: More residents report issues with medical transportation provided by Medicaid, say it’s unreliableAfter the News4JAX I-TEAM reported the arrests of 20 drivers of a transportation company that was a subcontractor of Modivcare — a company contracted with the state of Florida to coordinate transportation for Medicaid patients to their health-related appointments — more residents have been voicing their concerns about the issues plaguing medical transportation.
20 arrested, accused in $5 million Medicaid transportation scheme involving Jacksonville company
Read full article: 20 arrested, accused in $5 million Medicaid transportation scheme involving Jacksonville companyInvestigators said the company billed Medicaid for thousands of patient trips that never happened. The trips were supposed to help patients receive medical care.
Many states are expanding their Medicaid programs to provide dental care to their poorest residents
Read full article: Many states are expanding their Medicaid programs to provide dental care to their poorest residentsA growing number of states are offering dental care to low-income adults who once had to rely on charity or the emergency room to treat their tooth problems.
Appeals court takes up transgender health coverage case likely headed to Supreme Court
Read full article: Appeals court takes up transgender health coverage case likely headed to Supreme CourtA federal appeals court is considering cases out of North Carolina and West Virginia that could have significant implications on whether individual states are required to cover health care for transgender people with government-sponsored insurance.
Fake Arizona rehab centers scam Native Americans far from home, officials warn during investigations
Read full article: Fake Arizona rehab centers scam Native Americans far from home, officials warn during investigationsHundreds of Native Americans have been recruited to addiction treatment centers in Phoenix from states as far away as Montana in a widespread billing scheme that mostly targeted Medicaid’s American Indian Health Program.
Georgia Medicaid program with work requirement off to slow start even as thousands lose coverage
Read full article: Georgia Medicaid program with work requirement off to slow start even as thousands lose coveragePublic health advocates say Georgia appears to be doing little to promote its new Medicaid plan or enroll people in it.
Feds raise concerns about long call center wait times as millions dropped from Medicaid
Read full article: Feds raise concerns about long call center wait times as millions dropped from MedicaidFederal officials are raising concerns that long call center wait times may be contributing to a surge in the number of people losing Medicaid health care coverage.
GOP nominee says he would renew push for Medicaid work requirement if elected governor in Kentucky
Read full article: GOP nominee says he would renew push for Medicaid work requirement if elected governor in KentuckyRepublican Daniel Cameron says he would move quickly as Kentucky’s governor to revive a push to require some able-bodied adults to work in exchange for Medicaid health coverage.
Biden administration asks employers to give more help to workers who lose Medicaid
Read full article: Biden administration asks employers to give more help to workers who lose MedicaidThe Biden administration is asking employers to give workers who lose Medicaid coverage more time to land health insurance through their jobs.
Georgia launches Medicaid expansion in closely watched test of work requirements
Read full article: Georgia launches Medicaid expansion in closely watched test of work requirementsGeorgia is offering a new bargain to some adults without health insurance beginning Saturday: Go to work or school and the state will cover you.
Families worry over the future of Medicaid caregiver payments that were expanded during the pandemic
Read full article: Families worry over the future of Medicaid caregiver payments that were expanded during the pandemicFamilies of severely disabled children across the country are worried about the future of crucial Medicaid payments they started receiving to provide care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal judge strikes down Florida's ban on Medicaid funding for transgender treatment
Read full article: Federal judge strikes down Florida's ban on Medicaid funding for transgender treatmentA federal judge has struck down Florida rules championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis restricting Medicaid coverage for transgender treatments.
Navajo Nation declares widespread Medicaid scam in Arizona a public health state of emergency
Read full article: Navajo Nation declares widespread Medicaid scam in Arizona a public health state of emergencyA widespread Arizona Medicaid scam that has left an unknown number of Native Americans homeless on the streets of metro Phoenix is being declared a public health state of emergency by the Navajo Nation as fraudulent sober living homes lose their funding and turn former residents onto the streets.
More than 1 million people are dropped from Medicaid as states start a post-pandemic purge of rolls
Read full article: More than 1 million people are dropped from Medicaid as states start a post-pandemic purge of rollsAbout 1.5 million people have lost Medicaid coverage in more than two dozen states as a post-coronavirus pandemic purge of the rolls gets underway.
Rhode Island governor signs bill to fund abortion coverage for state workers and Medicaid recipients
Read full article: Rhode Island governor signs bill to fund abortion coverage for state workers and Medicaid recipientsRhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee has signed a bill into law that would let state funds be used to pay for health insurance plans that cover state workers and Medicaid recipients seeking abortions.
New work requirements for federal aid? GOP pushes proposals in debt talks
Read full article: New work requirements for federal aid? GOP pushes proposals in debt talksWork requirements for federal aid programs have emerged as a sticking point in ongoing negotiations over raising the nation’s debt ceiling, and President Joe Biden has signaled openness to a possible compromise even as many in his party have balked.
As public health emergency ends, pandemic-era support programs have already been fading away
Read full article: As public health emergency ends, pandemic-era support programs have already been fading awayThe formal end of the national Public Health Emergency on Thursday is largely a symbolic and psychological step, representing the country’s formal emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Congress eyes work rules for millions covered by Medicaid
Read full article: Congress eyes work rules for millions covered by MedicaidMore than half a million of the poorest Americans would be left without health insurance under legislation passed by House Republicans that would require people to work in exchange for health care coverage through Medicaid.
Error, confusion plague review kicking millions off Medicaid
Read full article: Error, confusion plague review kicking millions off MedicaidSome Medicaid recipients tell The Associated Press errors and confusion are leading to them being kicked off the federally and state-funded health coverage program.
Biden says he's expanding some migrants' health care access
Read full article: Biden says he's expanding some migrants' health care accessPresident Joe Biden says his administration is expanding eligibility for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges to hundreds of thousands of immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
Jacksonville doctor worries about patient access to heathcare after millions expected to lose Medicaid
Read full article: Jacksonville doctor worries about patient access to heathcare after millions expected to lose MedicaidRoughly 84 million people are covered by Medicaid and as many as 14 million people could be at risk of losing access the health care coverage.
US plans to allow Medicaid for drug treatment in prisons
Read full article: US plans to allow Medicaid for drug treatment in prisonsThe Biden administration is planning to reverse longstanding policy and allow the use of Medicaid to treat jail and prison inmates' substance use disorders and certain other health conditions.
Maternal deaths and disparities increase in Mississippi
Read full article: Maternal deaths and disparities increase in MississippiA newly released report from the Mississippi State Department of Health finds that an increasing number of mothers in the state have died in recent years due to pregnancy complications.
Gov. DeSantis joins call to end COVID health emergency declaration
Read full article: Gov. DeSantis joins call to end COVID health emergency declarationGov. Ron DeSantis last week joined 24 other Republican governors in asking President Joe Biden to end a COVID-19 emergency declaration that has helped lead to a surge in enrollment in Florida’s Medicaid program.
Millions to lose Medicaid coverage under Congress' plan
Read full article: Millions to lose Medicaid coverage under Congress' planMillions of people who enrolled in Medicaid during the COVID-19 pandemic could start to lose their insurance plans by April 1 if Congress passes the $1.7 trillion spending package leaders unveiled Tuesday.
I-TEAM: Patients left stranded by non-emergency medical transportation provider
Read full article: I-TEAM: Patients left stranded by non-emergency medical transportation providerThe News4JAX I-TEAM has uncovered thousands of complaints filed in recent years against a taxpayer-funded transportation company for Medicaid recipients.
Pence backs GOP's Kemp as Democrat Abrams hits on Medicaid
Read full article: Pence backs GOP's Kemp as Democrat Abrams hits on MedicaidFormer Vice President Mike Pence is supporting Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp as he makes his closing argument Tuesday for a second term over Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams.
Medicaid extensions for new moms grow, may run into limits
Read full article: Medicaid extensions for new moms grow, may run into limitsStates around the country are making it easier for newborn moms to keep Medicaid in the year after childbirth, a crucial time when depression and other health problems can develop.
Pharmacies can't discriminate on reproductive health scripts
Read full article: Pharmacies can't discriminate on reproductive health scriptsThe Biden administration is warning pharmacies not to discriminate against women who may seek reproductive health prescriptions, including some that might be involved in ending a pregnancy.
Nursing home owner whose residents suffered in Ida arrested
Read full article: Nursing home owner whose residents suffered in Ida arrestedThe owner of seven Louisiana nursing homes whose residents suffered in squalid conditions after being evacuated to a warehouse for Hurricane Ida has been arrested.
Nursing home care, funding system need overhaul, report says
Read full article: Nursing home care, funding system need overhaul, report saysA major report says American nursing home residents are subjected to ineffective care and poor staffing, and that facility finances are shrouded in secrecy and regulatory lapses go unenforced.
State ends appeal in health worker vaccine case
Read full article: State ends appeal in health worker vaccine caseAfter a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this month that backed the Biden administration, Florida has dropped its appeal in a legal fight against federal COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health-care workers.
US health tab hit $4T as gov't opened spigot to fight COVID
Read full article: US health tab hit $4T as gov't opened spigot to fight COVIDA government report says U.S. health care spending rocketed to $4.1 trillion last year as Congress opened the spigot of federal dollars to battle the coronavirus pandemic across multiple fronts.
Medicaid issues, not Medicare's, get fixes in Biden budget
Read full article: Medicaid issues, not Medicare's, get fixes in Biden budgetMedicaid issues are turning up as winners in President Joe Biden’s social budget framework even as divisions force Democrats to hit pause on far-reaching improvements to Medicare.
Agonizing choices as Dems debate shrinking health care pie
Read full article: Agonizing choices as Dems debate shrinking health care pieDemocrats are fretting about how they’d divide a shrinking pie amid signs that negotiations over President Joe Biden’s massive domestic policy bill could yield a smaller serving of health care spending.
Biden: Nearly 3M get health coverage during COVID-19 sign-up
Read full article: Biden: Nearly 3M get health coverage during COVID-19 sign-upPresident Joe Biden says nearly 3 million consumers took advantage of a special six-month period to sign up for subsidized health insurance coverage made more affordable by his COVID-19 relief law.
Health care for older immigrants sees momentum among states
Read full article: Health care for older immigrants sees momentum among statesIllinois is leading a handful of Democratic-run states in extending health insurance coverage to adult immigrants living in the country illegally, including seniors.
State requests $1.1 billion for home and community-based Medicaid services
Read full article: State requests $1.1 billion for home and community-based Medicaid servicesFlorida is looking to secure an additional $1.1 billion from the federal government to bolster Medicaid funding over the next two years.
Senators seek Medicaid-like plan to cover holdout states
Read full article: Senators seek Medicaid-like plan to cover holdout statesThree Democratic U.S. senators from states that have refused to expand Medicaid want the federal government to set up a mirror plan to provide health insurance coverage to people in those states.
Reports points to more jobs, other benefits from Medicaid expansion
Read full article: Reports points to more jobs, other benefits from Medicaid expansionFlorida could add 134,700 jobs, lower the number of uninsured residents by 852,000 and pump billions of additional federal dollars into the economy if it would expand Medicaid to low-income adults without children, according to a report released Thursday.
Biden's ambitious expansion of long-term care sparks debate
Read full article: Biden's ambitious expansion of long-term care sparks debatePresident Joe Biden has proposed a major expansion of the government’s role in long-term care, but questions are being raised over his use of the low-income Medicaid program and piggybacking the whole idea on an infrastructure bill.
More than a half million Americans gain coverage under Biden
Read full article: More than a half million Americans gain coverage under BidenThe government says more than a half million Americans have already taken advantage of the Biden administration’s special health insurance sign-up window that's keyed to the COVID-19 pandemic.