This message contains images. If you don't see images, click here to view. Click here to advertise in this news brief.   Mobile version    RSS    Subscribe    Unsubscribe    Archive    Media Kit Feb. 7, 2013 Home   About   Policy & Advocacy   Education & Resources   Events           Michigan's Snyder is latest GOP governor to accept Medicaid expansion under Obamacare The Hill    Share    Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder will embrace the Medicaid expansion in President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law — the latest Republican to buck party leaders who have pressed governors hard to resist the expansion. The Detroit Free Press reported that Snyder will back the expansion in the budget he delivers to the state legislature the next day. The expansion will give roughly 470,000 Michigan residents access to Medicaid, the newspaper reported. More Truven Health launches analytics for HIE utilization evaluation and population health management Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance    Share    Truven Health Analytic, formerly the Healthcare business of Thomson Reuters, announced the launch of HIE Advantage Analytics, a new data analytics suite designed to help public health officials access and analyze operational and clinical statistics housed within state-wide health information exchanges. The new analytics suite is currently being used in the new West Virginia Health Information Network to help administrators evaluate HIE utilization. More Social Security, health spending to hit $3.2 trillion a year Reuters    Share    Spending on Social Security and healthcare will double to $3.2 trillion a year over the next decade, threatening a sharp rise in national debt unless Congress acts to avoid the danger, congressional researchers warned. A report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office did not put forth a plan to resolve the long-term imbalance between revenues and spending on retirement and healthcare benefits, but it said that action taken now would help minimize the economic impact of whatever course lawmakers can agree on. More CMS releases FAQs on Basic Health Program, FMAP, pregnant women coverage, children's coverage MHPA    Share    CMS released a FAQs document discussing the Basic Health Program, federal medical assistance percentages and pregnant women and children's coverage. Among the many highlights include proposed rules regarding BHPs expected in 2013 and guidance in 2014, and CMS requesting that states that used section 1115 demonstrations to expand coverage to low income adults as of 2009 provide it with an analysis of the benefit package offered so that it can determine if it met benchmark-equivalent standards. More Manage Growth. Increase Efficiency. Control Costs. TMG Health has the experience and proven solutions you need for SUCCESS in the Managed Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Part D markets. Our purpose-built applications ensure the highest level of ACCURACY and COMPLIANCE for Enrollment, Eligibility, Reconciliation, Premium Billing, Print Fulfillment, Call Center, Claims Processing, and more. Contact us. Malloy proposal cuts Medicaid, payments to working poor, hospitals in Connecticut The CT Mirror    Share    Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's budget proposal would eliminate Medicaid coverage for thousands of poor parents, reduce a tax credit for low-income workers, eliminate the state-run Charter Oak Health Plan and slash payments to hospitals. It would also take advantage of federal funds to increase Medicaid enrollment and raise rates paid to primary care providers who treat Medicaid patients, both of which are required by federal health reform. More Pennsylvania governor rejects Medicaid expansion The Hill    Share    Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said that he "cannot recommend" expanding Medicaid under President Barack Obama's healthcare law. In a letter to Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the Republican governor said participating in the federal Medicaid expansion would require tax increases in the state. More Kansas' great hope: Managed care will tame Medicaid costs Kaiser Health News    Share    On Jan. 1, the state of Kansas began enrolling nearly all of its Medicaid population — including its most expensive patients— into a managed care program called KanCare. This effort is unrelated to the federal health law's Medicaid coverage expansion, on which Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has yet to take a position. Meanwhile, as the transition proceeds, many policy analysts are watching to see if the state has done enough to meet the goal of controlling costs while ensuring that these vulnerable patients receive quality healthcare. More WellCare health plans approved to expand Staywell Medicaid services in Florida Pharmacy Choice    Share    WellCare Health Plans, Inc. announced that the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration has approved WellCare of Florida to expand its Staywell Medicaid managed care services. The expansion adds 25 new counties to the company's service area and positions WellCare as the only Medicaid managed care provider offering plans in all 67 Florida counties. More Iowa governor still opposed to Medicaid expansion The Associated Press via The Omaha World Herald    Share    Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad hasn't changed his opposition to increasing the Medicaid rolls in Iowa despite a decision by the Republican governor of Ohio to support expansion of that state's Medicaid program, an aide said. Branstad's spokesman Tim Albrecht said the Republican governor still believes raising the Medicaid eligibility limits would be too costly. Branstad does support continuing the IowaCare program, a state and federally funded plan that provides limited health coverage to low-income adults, Albrecht said. More Virginia Senate to consider quicker decision on Medicaid Richmond Times-Dispatch    Share    The Virginia Senate is having second thoughts about waiting another year to decide whether to expand the state's Medicaid program to hundreds of thousands of uninsured Virginians under the national Affordable Care Act. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to introduce an amendment to the state budget today that would allow expansion of Medicaid this year if the state succeeds in getting federal approval of changes to the program. More Arkansas' Bebee asking about Medicaid options KNOE-TV    Share    Gov. Mike Beebe has asked the federal government whether Arkansans who earn just above the poverty level could choose private health insurance on the state's exchange rather than Medicaid coverage. Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample says the governor asked U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius whether private insurance is an option for people making 100 percent to 138 percent of the poverty level — or between $11,170 and $15,415 — if Arkansas agrees to expand Medicaid. More Utah retreats from all-in-one health exchange, pitches business-only model The Salt Lake Tribune    Share    Utah's online insurance marketplace, Avenue H, is still the focus of 11th-hour negotiations with the Obama administration. Unable to win legislative support for a state-run exchange that meets all federal requirements, Gov. Gary Herbert pitched a new scenario to U.S. Health and Human Services Sec. Kathleen Sebelius. More Ohio seeks to overhaul Medicaid eligibility system The Associated Press via WXIX-TV    Share    Ohio is closer to replacing an outdated system that's known for rejecting eligible people from the Medicaid program. Officials said the state will contract with Accenture LLC for a new system that will help determine eligibility for programs across Ohio's health and human services agencies. The announcement comes as the governor wants to expand the federal-state Medicaid program to cover more low-income people. More LIBERTY Dental Plan ✓ A National Leader in providing dental benefits for Medicaid, CHIP and Medicare programs ✓ Nationwide Network ✓ Comprehensive Dental Disease Management ✓ Predictable Costs with Quality Programs info@libertydentalplan.com Take the risk out of your Vision and Rx Plans Let NVA help you get a better view. Learn More Recent webinar presentations from PwC, Deloitte, AmeriHealth Mercy available free on MHPA's website MHPA    Share    View PDFs of "The Race to 2014: Health Reform and the 30 Million Newly Insured" by PwC, "The Fiscal Cliff, ACA, and Medicaid Managed Care" by Deloitte Consulting, "Optimizing Pharmaceutical Care in a Drug Therapy Management Program" by The AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies, and more. More MHPA's Amy Ingham to speak at 6th Annual Leadership Summit on Medicaid Managed Care | Feb 25-27 | Arlington, Va. World Congress via MHPA    Share    Payment transformation continues in Medicaid, as well as the development of integrated care delivery models industrywide. Medicaid managed care plans must continue to show their value. Attend the 6th Annual Leadership Summit on Medicaid Managed Care to learn how. MHPA members, receive a $200 discount when you register online or at 800-767-9499 with promo code MHPA200. Discounts are not valid on government rates. More Annual Medicaid Managed Care Congress | May 20-22 | Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor Hotel | Baltimore Institute for International Research    Share    Collaborate and drive innovation to move the Medicaid industry forward. Implement the ACA, increase quality, grow membership, and strengthen financials. Register with code XP1826MHPA and save 25 percent. More MHPA on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook MHPA    Share    Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook to get industry-related news and the latest MHPA announcements.   MHPA's Industry NewsBrief Colby Horton, Vice President of Publishing, 469.420.2601 Download media kit Damon Sayles, Content Editor, 469.420.2662    Contribute news This edition of MHPA's Industry NewsBrief was sent to ##Email##. To unsubscribe, click here. Did someone forward this edition to you? Subscribe here -- it's free! Recent issues Feb. 7, 2013 Feb. 6, 2013 Jan. 31, 2013 Jan. 29, 2013 7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063