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The Hill
The Obama administration is rejecting a request from a group of House Democrats to open the door to a far-reaching response against high drug prices. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell sent a letter to Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett, dated March 2, that declines his request for the department to issue guidance on the use of "march-in rights" to break drug patents when prices are too high.
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Winston-Salem Journal
The state of North Carolina's largest healthcare systems have been caught in a logistical tug-of-war after legislators proposed a hybrid strategy for handling the biggest piece of Medicaid reform.
Do the systems pursue a statewide Medicaid coverage role, whether individually or collaboratively, which carries both revenue opportunities and risk, or do they focus on serving their own markets?
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Politifact
Medicaid expansion in Missouri continues to be a major item of partisan contention within the state legislature, and now, candidates for governor have begun weighing in on the issue. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, recently tweeted: "A single mother of two can't qualify for basic healthcare through Medicaid if she makes more than $3,504 dollars a year."
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New Hampshire Union Leader
Extending the state of New Hampshire's Medicaid expansion program for two more years took another step forward Thursday when the House Finance Committee voted 18-8 to approve House Bill 1696. The committee did amend the bill to shift $1.5 million in administrative costs from the Department of Health and Human Services to hospitals and insurance companies which are paying a majority of the state's share of the cost beginning Jan. 1, 2017, when the federal government stops paying 100 percent of the program.
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WMUR-TV
House lawmakers will vote on a measure New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan calls critical in the war on addiction in the state — the expansion of Medicaid. And while opposition remains to that part of the Affordable Care Act, the governor is also pushing to loosen the purse strings on other measures designed to combat the heroin and opioid crisis.
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Alaska Public Media
The Senate Finance Committee has been weighing a wide-ranging bill to overhaul Medicaid in Alaska. One provision is aimed at curbing the abuse of opioid drugs. Senate Bill 74 would require doctors to check a database before prescribing opioids. The sponsors want to make sure patients aren't going from doctor to doctor seeking pills. The bill also requires pharmacists to check the Alaska Prescription Database Monitoring Program.
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Arkansas Online
In the past month, the Arkansas Department of Human Services has reduced by more than half the number of infants whose applications for Medicaid have been pending more than 45 days, a department official told state lawmakers on Thursday. Mary Franklin, who became interim director of the department's Division of County Operations in January, told the legislature's House and Senate public health committees during a joint meeting that she expects to have eliminated the backlog by the end of the month.
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MDwise
MDwise members who are enrolled in Voxiva's Connect4health digital health messaging program were 57 percent more likely to attend their annual physical exam within 90 days of receiving interactive text messages, according to a recent analysis of claims data. Through the federal Lifeline assistance program, eligible MDwise members receive a free mobile phone and monthly service, unlimited text messaging, free calls to member services, and Voxiva's evidence-based health messaging program, Connect4health, at no charge.
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Inside Health Policy
Introducing Medicaid Roundup, a new feature on Inside Health Policy offering news and analysis of major policies affecting Medicaid stakeholders. Our monthly roundup looks ahead at emerging issues and also provides an update on recent policy developments.
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MHPA
Last year, the Medicaid Health Plans of America (MHPA) and the Institute for Medicaid Innovation (IMI) received nearly 100 submissions for consideration in the annual best practices compendium. An electronic version of the compendium is now available at the Institute for Medicaid Innovation (IMI)'s landing page.
This year, we have two opportunities, as outlined below, for you to submit best practices.
CHildhood Obesity Prevent & Treatment (CHOPT) for Medicaid
The Institute, in partnership with MHPA and ACAP, was awarded an RWJF grant specific to childhood obesity prevention and treatment that we have named CHOPT for Medicaid. As part of the project, we are conducting an environmental scan (questionnaire for health plans) and soliciting examples of best practices.
The following is the timeline for participating in this project.
Feb. 22: Questionnaire DUE
March 21: Best Practices Submission Form DUE (NOTE: Submissions from MHPA members are automatically sent for review and inclusion in the annual compendium.)
Oct. 28: Childhood Obesity Summit (D.C.)
2016-2017 Medicaid Managed Care Best Practices Compendium
The categories for this year's compendium remain the same; women's and maternal health, child health, behavioral health, long-term care and transitions of care and expansion population. However, the deadlines for submission are earlier due to MHPA's annual conference occurring in September, instead of November as last year.
The following is the timeline for this year's submission cycle.
March 1: Best Practices Submission Form Emailed to Plans
April 30: Best Practices Submission Form DUE
Sept. 21: Release of Compendium and Announcement of Awards at MHPA Conference (D.C.)
Women's Reproductive Health Project
The Institute is also leading a women's reproductive health project that is funded by the Kaiser Family Foundation. We will be administering a questionnaire developed by your colleagues at Medicaid health plans that will include an opportunity to briefly identify innovative and promising best practices, develop an issue brief, and host a policy briefing with Kaiser. We encourage your participation in the following ways:
April 12: Questionnaire Emailed to Plans
May 16: Questionnaire DUE
TBD: Kaiser and Institute Joint Policy Briefing (D.C.)
Please send your submissions and any questions to Jennifer Moore.
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MHPA
Thanks again to all who attended and who participated in this great recap of MHPA's annual conference. (download conference presentations here).
Next up: Save the date for mhpa2016 from Sept. 21-23!
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