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After voting last week to eliminate coverage for “optional” Medicaid services – not mandated by the federal government but still critical for many residents living with injury or disabilities – state representatives reversed course yesterday afternoon, opting to maintain funding after all. ... Citing a need to achieve a balanced budget with less revenue than what the governor was predicting, representatives last week proposed cuts to a number of Health and Human Services programs. Along the way, representatives voted to cut coverage for 20 categories of optional Medicaid services for adults over age 21 – including wheelchair van services, private duty nursing, inpatient and outpatient mental health, adult medical day care and audiology services, like hearing aids. In the days since, New Hampshire residents who use these services expressed serious concern that this decision would create serious financial burdens and jeopardize their ability to maintain a basic quality of life. (McDermott, 3/23)

House budget writers voted along party lines to reduce Gov. Maggie Hassan’s proposed budget Monday and will continue working Tuesday to ready the spending plan for a vote next week. ... Democrats expressed concern about a $15 million reduction for the new Medicaid Management Information System, which has been delayed and gone over budget. The system processes medical claims from the Medicaid health insurance program for the poor, disabled and elderly and pays providers for their services. Rep. Marjorie Smith, D-Durham, noted the investment in the new electronic billing system was being reduced after years of “inordinate delays” and at a time when it provides a possible benefit to the state. (Rayno, 3/23)

The Ohio Department of Medicaid said it erred last week when it sent letters to about 4,200 doctors, home-care workers and other Medicaid providers notifying them that they were being kicked out of the Medicaid program. A coding mistake made on Wednesday during a routine system update led to the improper notifications, said Ohio Medicaid spokesman Sam Rossi. (Price and Sutherly, 3/24)

Thousands of people enrolled in Arkansas' compromise Medicaid expansion would receive notices that their coverage is ending — even though lawmakers haven't decided the program's future — under a proposal approved Monday by the Senate. (DeMillo, 3/23)