Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
In Montana, Players Race To Get Medicaid Expansion System In Place For Jan. 1 Start
As thousands of low-income Montanans already sign up for expanded Medicaid health coverage, the state and its contractor 鈥 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana 鈥 are racing to have the system in place by its planned coverage date of Jan. 1. The state will determine who鈥檚 eligible and Blue Cross, which is managing the expansion program, must build an automated system to collect premiums, track co-payments, and process claims. John Doran, director of public relations for Blue Cross, said Wednesday the private health insurer has been working 鈥渄ay and night鈥 to get ready. It plans to send enrollment cards and 鈥渨elcome packets鈥 to eligible clients by mid-December, he said. (Dennison, 11/11)
Three moderate Republicans who support Medicaid expansion have been removed from a House committee that oversees health care issues. The move is the latest in the fight over whether the state should extend the health care program for those with disabilities or low incomes under the Affordable Care Act. 鈥淜ansans oppose expanding Obamacare, a program that has busted budget after budget in states that have expanded it, House Speaker Ray Merrick said in a statement. Merrick, who makes House committee assignments, also moved moderates off key committees dealing with the budget and education Wednesday. (Lowry, 11/11)
The Medicaid expansion question is also playing a role in Louisiana's gubernatorial election -
Republican David Vitter and Democrat John Bel Edwards faced off in a slow burn of a debate on Tuesday (Nov. 10) that started with a sober discussion of policy issues and ended with a fierce clash over character questions. Here's a look at the four big themes and takeaways .... Vitter sees an opening when it comes to Medicaid expansion: Edwards has been unapologetic about his support for expanding Medicaid, a key element of the Affordable Care Act that would expand coverage to hundreds of thousands of working poor in Louisiana. But Vitter, mindful of Kentucky residents voting a Republican candidate into office last week who had an anti-Medicaid expansion platform, is now seeking to tie Edwards to the unpopular president through his support for Medicaid. (Litten, 11/10)
