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CEO: Humana spent $20 million on hepatitis C drugs
Reuters
Humana Inc. Chief Executive Officer Bruce Broussard said the managed health care company spent $20 million on hepatitis C drugs for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D customers during the first quarter.
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Hepatitis C: The high cost of a cure in Georgia
Georgia Health News
Probably the biggest ethical dilemma now confronting the healthcare world involves two expensive new drugs to treat hepatitis C. The issue boils down to a trade-off between efficacy and cost. One drug, Sovaldi, has a 90 percent cure rate for newly infected patients — much better than previously available treatments for hepatitis C. It also costs $84,000 for a 12-week treatment — basically $1,000 per day.
FDA drug chief: Drug cures progress could require 'down payment'
Inside Health Policy
FDA's top drug official, responding to criticism about the high price of breakthrough drugs, said the agency is driving toward cures for diseases like cancer and hepatitis, but there will be a transition and possibly "a big down payment" required.
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NFIB: Insurer tax could result in up to 286,000 lost jobs
Inside Health Policy
The National Federation of Independent Business says the ACA's health insurer tax will result in a loss of from 152,000 to 286,000 private-sector jobs by 2023, and 57 percent of those jobs will come from the small business sector. NFIB is a part of a larger coalition called Stop the HIT that has backed a full repeal of the tax as well as legislation delaying it for two years.
May 14 Webinar Wednesday: 'Effective Administration of
Dual Eligibles' by TriZetto
TriZetto
The dual-eligible market is growing rapidly with projected membership expected to increase by 400 percent by 2020. This market represents a significant opportunity for health plans who are able manage this complex population efficiently and effectively. Join TriZetto's Becky Erbe, vice president of government programs, and Norah Brennan, associate vice president, as they discuss roadblocks to managing duals and solutions to serve this vulnerable population.
Health insurers laud Burwell ahead of hearing
The Hill
Health insurance companies heaped praise on Sylvia Burwell ahead of her first confirmation hearing for the position of Health and Human Services secretary. The statement from Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans, signaled what is likely to be a smooth path to confirmation for the current White House budget director.
Some Indiana early births to be no longer funded by Medicaid
The Associated Press via The Herald Bulletin
Beginning July 1, as part of the state's effort to reduce its infant mortality rate, Indiana's Medicaid program no longer will pay for early, elective childbirths, according to the Family and Social Services Administration.
With North Carolina DHHS Medicaid officer resigning, turnover continues
The Associated Press via WNCN-TV
Medicaid Chief Financial Officer Keith Brennan resigned on May 6, and the turnover is continuing at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the agency responsible for running the Medicaid health insurance program for poor children, older adults and the disabled.
Missouri budget expected to restore Medicaid benefits
The Associated Press via St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Missouri lawmakers are poised to give final approval to a state budget that could restore Medicaid benefits that were cut a decade ago — a budget that could provide funding for adult dental care and physical rehabilitation items, such as specially fitted wheelchairs.
Arizona offers 'sneak peak' at costs of shifting children off CHIP
Kaiser Health News
Families of Arizona children who were forced to switch from the Children's Health Insurance Program to private plans sold in the federal marketplace are likely paying more and getting fewer benefits, according to a recently released study.
Knute Rotto joins ValueOptions as CEO of Connecticut operations
ValueOptions
ValueOptions, Inc., a health improvement company specializing in mental and emotional well being and recovery, has announced that Knute Rotto has joined the company as CEO of ValueOptions in Connecticut. In this position, Rotto will be responsible for overall operations that support all company contracts with state-sponsored programs. He will also serve as the senior executive leader for all Connecticut Public Sector new business development.
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States enroll former foster youth in Medicaid
The Pew Charitable Trusts
One of the Affordable Care Act's successes is a provision that allows young people up to 26 years old to remain on their parents' health insurance. Under a similar-but-less-known provision, young adults who have been recently released from foster care can also get Medicaid coverage, regardless of their incomes. An estimated 180,000 foster care alumni became eligible on Jan. 1.
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State of Pennsylvania waiting for Medicaid expansion ruling
The Associated Press via
The Washington Post
While awaiting a federal decision on his request to link a work requirement to benefits under the Medicaid expansion, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has softened his rhetoric. It's an issue that has flared up in his hotly contested re-election campaign.
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Illinois Medicaid moves to managed care
Chicago Tribune via
Kaiser Health News
Sherry Loveless can see the promise of managed care right through her bedroom door. Saddled with multiple disabilities, Loveless, 61, has been stuck in her Rockford, Ill., bedroom for months because the doorway is too narrow for her wheelchair to squeeze through. Thanks to a restructuring in Illinois' Medicaid program, a renovation project is scheduled to widen the door and build a ramp that will allow her access to the outside.
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171 days until mhpa2014: Registration set to open June 2014; hotel, airfare discounts now available
MHPA
"Making It Personal: Focusing on the Enrollee in the Tangled Era of Health Reform," MHPA's 2014 conference on Oct. 26-28 at the new Marriott Marquis/Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown Washington, D.C., will put the spotlight back on the Medicaid beneficiary. Registration will open in June, but hotel and flight discounts are available now. Click here for details.
If you're interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at mhpa2014, please check out our sponsor page.
Did you miss Webinar Wednesday's 'Emerging Regulatory Issues and Risk Exposures Impacting Medicaid Managed Care Plans' by Deloitte? Get the slides, other webinar presentations free
MHPA
View PDFs or listen to audio for the following webinars:
View additional webinars here.
May 21 Webinar Wednesday: 'Transitioning to Managed Care for Individuals Receiving Long Term Services Support' by Deloitte
Deloitte Consulting
The Long Term Services Support population is undergoing a dramatic change as states and plans transition home and community-based services and nursing home services from a fee-for-service system to a managed care system. Jim Hardy and Jim Jones, both specialist leaders at Deloitte Consulting LLP, will focus on some of the key capabilities organizations should develop to overcome challenges in the areas of provider contracting, risk management and targeted care models.
MHPA launches health insurance tax website MedicaidTaxHurts.org
MHPA
Visit MedicaidTaxHurts.org for everything you need to know about the health insurance tax, including its effect on the Medicaid program and how it hits individual states.
Missed our previous issues? See which articles your colleagues read most.
MHPA CEO Jeff Myers to speak at Medicaid Managed Care Congress 2014, scheduled May 19-21 in Baltimore
MHPA
The Medicaid Managed Care Congress is where government officials, health plan executives and other key players of the healthcare ecosystem come together to learn from one another. Not only will you have exclusive access to industry leaders who will guide you through the 2014 healthcare evolution, you will also have unique networking opportunities to learn from case studies that will drive your business strategy forward.
Highlights include: CMS Keynote speakers, ABC News Chief White House Correspondent, Jeff Myers, MHPA's president and CEO, Jonathan Karl, 18+ health plan case studies from MajestaCare, Molina Healthcare, Cigna-Health Spring and more, eight intimate round table discussions with government officials and 12 never-before-heard presentations across three unique tracks.
Save 20 percent with your MHPA code: XP1926MHPA. Visit here to register today!
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MHPA
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