Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
States' Budget Woes Taking A Toll On Health Care And Medicaid Services
Even as the White House touts the Affordable Care Act's successful coverage of nearly 20 million people, residents across the country are struggling to access and afford healthcare and social service programs. State legislatures are seeing shrinking revenue because of tax cuts and low energy prices. North Dakota and Texas, which rely on oil tax revenue, are facing huge budget shortfalls. ... Now, after years of threatening to do so, health and social service programs are cutting services or folding outright. Medicaid programs are seeing monthslong delays in approving beneficiaries. (Munchmore, 4/23)
West Virginia officials warn that payments to Medicaid providers may be delayed amid state budget woes. The Department of Health and Human Resources told providers in a letter Monday. (4/25)
Health care providers around the state are being put on notice that the state may have trouble paying for Medicaid services if the budget impasse is not resolved. About 24,000 Medicaid providers are receiving letters sent Monday by the state Bureau of Medical Services warning that there could be delays receiving payments for services provided, resulting from potential cash flow issues caused by ongoing budget shortfalls. (Kabler, 4/25)
The funding problems for the 2016 fiscal year have been known to both executive and legislative leaders. In early April, Department of Revenue officials told the Charleston Gazette-Mail the state was some $146 million short of what it would need to keep the government open through June 30. (Marra, 4/25)
The Republican proposal does call for reductions to mental health funding compared to what was originally budgeted, but they are far smaller than [Gov. Dannell] Malloy鈥檚 proposed cut and would not affect grants paid to providers for mental health and substance abuse treatment. (Phaneuf, Rabe Thomas and Levin Becker, 4/25)
