Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Neb.'s Governor Takes Swipe At Proposed Medicaid Expansion; Feds Ask Calif. To Trim Back Its Funding Request For Medi-Cal Waiver
Gov. Pete Ricketts took a shot Thursday at proposed Medicaid expansion in Nebraska, warning that "we can't trust the federal government" to honor its commitment to always pay at least 90 percent of the costs. "If we expand Medicaid, it will cost the state $158 million over six years," the governor told a Platte Institute legislative summit. "That's money that could go to roads, education, investments to grow our state," Ricketts said. (Walton, 10/29)
Federal officials have asked California officials to trim back a Medicaid waiver plan by more than half, and they could be looking to trim it again. (Gorn, 10/29)
Louisiana was blocked by a judge from cutting Planned Parenthood鈥檚 Medicaid funds in a defeat for Governor Bobby Jindal as he seeks to raise his profile among Republican presidential candidates. The federal judge鈥檚 decision Thursday followed a similar ruling in Alabama Wednesday as abortion opponents nationwide seek to block Planned Parenthood鈥檚 government funding after circulating undercover videos claiming out-of-state affiliates illegally profited from the sale of fetal tissue. (Calkins and Hasselle, 10/29)
Flaws in New York's health exchange resulted in 21 dead people being enrolled in Medicaid and 333 getting continuing government-funded health coverage after they died, according to audit results released Thursday. The state comptroller's office reported that its auditors found overpayments of $3.4 million for the year starting Oct. 1, 2013, when the exchange began operating. That included $325,000 in coverage for the deceased. (Virtanen, 10/29)
At the helm of HealthSource RI for less than a year, Anya Rader Wallack is already leaving the post for another state job. Beginning Monday, she will become Rhode Island's next Medicaid director. (Salit, 10/29)
A private company that ultimately won a contract to help manage Iowa鈥檚 $4.2 billion Medicaid program asked two former state lawmakers for assistance in determining who was on the committee that would be evaluating the bids and how it might influence their decisions, according to evidence presented in court on Thursday. That company, WellCare, also sought information and received a response from a key member of Gov. Terry Branstad鈥檚 staff during a so-called "blackout" period when bidders were prohibited from making contact with state employees about the project, the documents show. (Clayworth, 10/29)
