Â鶹ŮÓÅ

State senators are taking a hard look at a proposal in Republican Gov. John Kasich's budget that would eliminate Medicaid health coverage for certain pregnant women and others who the administration says can get insurance through the federal marketplace. Democrats and several Republican senators have questioned the plan, suggesting that rolling back coverage for some low-income, pregnant women conflicts with the state's efforts to combat infant mortality. (Sanner, 6/1)

Children's Hospital Colorado could lose Medicaid certification systemwide if it does not correct deficiencies cited in a state and federal investigation of its satellite facility at Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs. "We have every reason to believe that Children's certification with Medicaid will be reinstated," said Dr. Larry Wolk, chief medical officer and director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. "But we have some work to do, as do they." (Draper, 6/1)

Efforts by advocates to increase access to healthcare may have received a major boost from the federal government this week in the form of the largest overhaul of rules relating to insurers and Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program in 13 years. The regulatory proposal could ease the transition as Medicaid recipients move to the federal individual health insurance marketplace; change Medicaid’s definition of care coordination to include social supports outside of healthcare; and encourage the expansion of healthcare-delivery models that have proven successful in other states, according to healthcare experts. (Kitchenman, 6/1)