Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Medicaid Program Challenged In Pa.
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia filed a lawsuit Monday asking the courts to stop changes to the health benefits of low-income Pennsylvanians from taking effect Jan. 1 under Gov. Tom Corbett鈥檚 signature health plan. The organization says changes under the Healthy Pennsylvania initiative will result in 鈥渟evere cuts鈥 to the health benefits of nearly 200,000 low-income Pennsylvanians. (Langley, 12/22)
The lawsuit follows news last week of a separate issue related to Gov. Tom Corbett's overhaul of the state's Medicaid program. Hundreds of health care providers across Pennsylvania are currently not receiving reimbursement from the state for care given to drug addicts and mentally ill patients on Medicaid, better known as HealthChoices. ... Kait Gillis, press secretary for the Department of Human Services, said Monday evening that the department disagrees with the lawsuit's allegations and it is preparing a legal response. (Simmons-Ritchie, 12/22)
Nearly one year after Ohio expanded Medicaid coverage for poor adults, Gov. John Kasich again faces uncertainty as he seeks approval from the Republican-led legislature to extend new eligibility guidelines for two more years. ... As of October, more than 430,000 poor Ohioans had gained health coverage under the expansion paid through federal funding available through the Affordable Care Act. (Candisky, 12/23)
Other stories track聽enrollment reports from聽state exchanges in Washington and New York -
Enrollment in health plans sold on the state鈥檚 Washington Healthplanfinder insurance exchange hits a major deadline at 5 p.m. Tuesday. That鈥檚 the point by which consumers need to select and pay the first month鈥檚 premium on plans for coverage effective Jan. 1. But consumers who, through no fault of their own, have had problems completing their enrollment or renewal on the Healthplanfinder site may get more time, according to Michael Marchand, communications director of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, which operates Healthplanfinder. (Marshall, 12/22)
New York's health exchange reports more than 225,000 people have newly enrolled for coverage starting next year. The Health Department says that total includes 83,057 people covered by private insurers and 142,187 by Medicaid. In the first year of the exchange, New York enrolled 370,604 people with commercial and nonprofit insurers. Another 525,283 enrolled in Medicaid and 64,875 in the state's Child Health Plus coverage. (12/22)
