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House bill would repeal Obamacare tax on insurance companies
The Hill
Louisiana Rep. Charles Boustany Jr. is renewing his push to repeal an Obamacare tax on insurance companies that he says "drives up costs" across the board. Boustany is joining Arizona Rep. Kyrsten Sinema on a bill to repeal the Health Insurance Tax, which he said hurts individuals and businesses by increasing premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Read MHPA's statement on the bill here.
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Kansas latest to engage in mental health drug debate
Kansas Health Institute
In Kansas, the state's Medicaid program tells doctors which medications they can prescribe for heart disease, diabetes, asthma or cancer. It's been that way for as long as most policymakers can remember. Mental health drugs are different. Since 2002, state law has allowed Medicaid patients access to whatever behavioral health drugs their physician or psychiatrist sees fit to prescribe. Gov. Sam Brownback's administration wants to change that.
Report: Low-income Californians more satisfied with their healthcare
Kaiser Health News
Low-income Californians are increasingly satisfied with the healthcare they receive, underscoring the impact of changes made by clinics and providers since the Affordable Care Act went into effect, according to a report released Wednesday. More than half of low-income patients — 53 percent — rated their quality of care as excellent or very good in 2014, up five percentage points from 2011, according to the survey by the Blue Shield of California Foundation. That means that about 400,000 patients were happier with their care, the report said.
Ohio's Medicaid enrollment worries both parties, but for different reasons
The Columbus Dispatch
With Ohio's Medicaid-expansion enrollment approaching half a million — a third higher than projected — House Democrats say a faulty process to renew benefits, plus premium charges proposed by Gov. John Kasich, would "jettison" many poor Ohioans from their newly obtained health coverage.
Complicated politics of Medicaid expansion are playing out state by state
The New York Times
New developments are underscoring just how complicated the politics of expanding Medicaid have become — and just how different the results of seeking an expansion have been from state to state. So far, 28 states have taken advantage of the federal funds offered through the healthcare law to sharply increase the number of adults eligible for Medicaid. Ten had Republican governors when they decided to expand the program, and supporters of the law hoped that the most recent, Indiana, would influence other holdouts to follow.
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Koch brothers' group aims to stop Medicaid expansion in some states
Modern Healthcare
Medicaid expansion to lower-income adults is still possible in some Republican-controlled states despite recent setbacks in Tennessee and Wyoming, policy watchers say. But elected officials and expansion advocates are closely watching the aggressive efforts of a conservative lobbying group funded by the billionaire Koch brothers that is mounting a big push to block further expansions.
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Kentucky Medicaid expansion study to be released
The Courier-Journal
One year after Kentucky expanded Medicaid under Obamacare, Gov. Steve Beshear on Thursday is expected to release an independent study examining its impact on the state's healthcare system. The study is expected to explore how the expansion has affected areas such as provider reimbursements and uncompensated care, whether it's beginning to create more jobs or tax revenue and its future enrollment outlook.
Senate Republicans talk Utah Medicaid expansion but make no decisions
Deseret News
Senate Republicans expressed frustration Tuesday after spending 90 minutes in a closed-door caucus talking about the state of Utah's options for Medicaid expansion without reaching any decision. The caucus plans to tackle the issue again Thursday because there are still unanswered questions, Senate President Wayne Niederhauser said.
Republicans propose healthcare alternatives to Medicaid expansion in Montana
The Montana Standard
Legislative Republicans Tuesday rolled out their proposals to expand health coverage for the poor in Montana and reform health care, saying the plan is focused on "getting the right services to the right people." The plan, outlined at a Capitol news conference, is an alternative to Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock's proposal to accept federal Medicaid funds to cover 70,000 low-income Montanans, they said — and is targeted at those who really need it.
Anthem hack: Could your insurer be next?
The Hill
The successful breach of Anthem, America's second-largest health insurer, has left many people wondering: Could my provider be next? The answer, experts say, is yes. It's not medical information that hackers are after when they infiltrate an entity like Anthem, experts say. The target is the trove of names, Social Security numbers and other identity information that an insurance company stockpiles on its customers.
NDEP Webinar: 'Population Health Management: Improving Health Where We Live, Work, and Play' | Feb. 24 | noon-1 p.m. ET
National Diabetes Education Program
Healthcare costs continue to soar, outpacing inflation and taking up increasingly larger portions of business, government and consumer budgets. But while costs are rising, overall health and well-being are declining. A population health management approach considers health quality and costs beyond the clinical setting to integrate health information, management and support into people's daily lives. Join the CDC's National Diabetes Education Program in this webinar that will show you a different way to think about health and wellness on the job and in the community.
Feb. 25 Webinar Wednesday: 'Health Plans Leave Money on the Table When They Fail to Effectively Audit, Track Rx Drug Claims'
Deloitte
The total cost of overpayments and fraud, waste and abuse (FWA) in the prescription drug claims arena can be significant. Discuss techniques that health plans and pharmacy benefit management companies can consider to root out FWA and audit for claims processing inefficiencies.
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Did you miss Webinar Wednesday: 'Engage Moms on Mobile Devices: How Smartphone Apps Can Improve Maternal Health'?
MHPA
Download the presentation by Wildflower Health and other past webinars here.
MHPA's Myers joins keynote health plan panel at Medicaid Managed Care Leadership Summit | Feb. 24-25 | Alexandria, VA
World Congress and MHPA
Hear from CMS, national health plans and seven state offices. Topics include expansion, long term care, dual eligibles and more!
MHPA members: Save $300 with promo code MHPA400. Register here, or call 800-767-9499. For more info, visit the website here.
MHPA's Myers to chair WHCC 4th Annual Medicaid and Medicare Reform Summit | March 2015 | Washington, DC
World Congress
MHPA President and CEO Jeff Myers will chair the WHCC 4th Annual Medicaid and Medicare Reform Summit, a meeting that convenes executives from health plans, hospital systems and policy organizations to share, learn and discuss approaches to improve the quality of government programs and achieve payment and delivery reform. For conference details, agenda and registration, please visit here.
Job opportunity: Physician contract negotiator | Chicago
Aetna
Negotiates, re-negotiates and executes physician and/or provider contracts in accordance with company standards in order to maintain and enhance provider networks while meeting and exceeding accessibility, quality and financial goals. Medicaid and Medicare contracting experience strongly preferred. Enter Requisition #22158.
Job opportunity: Clinical director, Homecare & Managed Care
First Quality
First Quality, a leading manufacturer of disposable home health care products, is seeking a clinical director for our Homecare & Managed Care Business. This candidate will provide leadership and have a focus on clinical education, utilization management protocols and programs and operational program development within home care and managed care markets.
MHPA has more than 2,100 Twitter followers! Are you one of them? If not, start following @mhpa for the latest in Medicaid and MHPA news.
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