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Oct. 1, 2020
 
 
 
 
TOP NEWS
 
 
4 million more Americans turn to Medicaid as coronavirus roils the economy
KITV-TV
More than 4 million more Americans turned to Medicaid last spring as the coronavirus pandemic upended the nation's economy, new federal data released Wednesday shows. The 5.7% jump between February and June came as millions of people lost their jobs — and, for many, their health insurance too — amid the public health emergency. Also, a coronavirus relief package Congress passed in mid-March barred states from cutting eligibility and disenrolling beneficiaries during the pandemic.
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MHPA sends letter to the House in support of Medicaid funding increase
MHPA
On Wednesday, MHPA sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi thanking the House for including an additional Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) increase in its new version of the COVID stimulus bill, the HEROES Act 2.0. An additional FMAP increase is essential to stabilizing state budgets and Medicaid programs for the more than 70 million beneficiaries that rely on Medicaid for high quality coverage and care.

Read MHPA's letter.
 
 
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Medicaid expansion could bring Texas $5.4 billion in federal dollars, study says
Houston Chronicle
Expanding Medicaid in Texas could bring as much as $5.4 billion federal dollars into the state and enroll nearly 1 million more people in the federal safety-net insurance program, according to a new study by Texas A&M researchers.
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Michigan's expanded Medicaid program hits record enrollment during coronavirus crisis
MLive via MSN
More than 800,000 Michiganders have enrolled in Michigan's expanded Medicaid program, which aims to provide health care coverage to low-income residents through the Affordable Care Act. The Healthy Michigan Plan had almost 682,000 enrollees in late March at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. As COVID-19 has affected Michiganders' finances and health, enrollment has grown to a record 800,794, or about 8% of residents, according to a Tuesday, Sept. 29 announcement from the Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office.
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    Ohio governor announces 1st major overhaul of Medicaid program in 15 years
    WCPO-TV
    Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced his administration's plans for the first major overhaul of Ohio's Medicaid system in 15 years during his Tuesday afternoon press conference. DeWine said the new plan will be a gradual overhaul and will not disrupt care or coverage for anyone currently enrolled in Medicaid, but will hopefully change the system and create a better, more effective method of care for recipients.
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    Molina to Buy Affinity Health Plan for $380 million in Medicaid deal
    Forbes
    Molina Healthcare said it will buy Affinity Health Plan for $380 million in cash, expanding the health insurer's Medicaid government health benefits businesses deeper into New York. Affinity, a Medicaid health plan with more than 280,000 subscribers in New York City, Westchester, Orange, Nassau, Suffolk, and Rockland counties in New York, has $1.3 billion in annual premium revenue.
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    Medicaid covering more Alaskans than in past due to pandemic
    The Associated Press via U.S. News & World Report
    The coronavirus pandemic has caused a national increase in the number of people enrolling in the federal Medicaid health payment program and officials have said Alaska residents are joining at unprecedented levels. Over the last six months, more than 12,000 people in Alaska have joined Medicaid, known in the state as DenaliCare and Denali KidCare, Juneau Public Media reported Friday.
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    $60 million project will build affordable housing in Central City for New Orleans Medicaid users
    The Times-Picayune
    A New Orleans-based nonprofit housing developer is teaming up with an insurance company for a $60 million project to convert a former Brown's Dairy lot on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in Central City into affordable housing for Medicaid users. The 192-unit housing complex, which is a "health and housing" pilot project for Gulf Coast Housing Partnership and Humana, will go up on the 86,000-square-foot property that covers almost the entire block bordered by Baronne, Erato and Thalia streets and the 1300 block of Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard on the lakeside.
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    Illinois: GOP House candidate wants to end Medicare, Medicaid
    Daily Herald
    The Republican candidate for Illinois' 11th Congressional District seat wants to gradually end the Medicare and Medicaid health care programs for older and poorer Americans and those with disabilities. "We need not immediately eliminate Medicare and Medicaid but we should cease ... future expansion of the programs, allow development of private programs and free individuals to leave Medicare and Medicaid," said Rick Laib, who's challenging Democratic incumbent Bill Foster for the post.
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    North Carolina organizations join forces to hold 'Medicaid for All March'
    The Fayetteville Observer
    Multiple North Carolina organizations are calling on poor people and others to join in a march in Fayetteville to call for better health care. The North Carolina Poor People's Campaign; NC Raise Up/Fight for $15 and a Union; Fayetteville PACT; and Action NC, along with other partners, will hold a "Medicaid for All March" Saturday afternoon at the Market House downtown.
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    Pennsylvania: Medicaid marches planned for Altoona, Johnstown
    WJAC-TV
    Healthcare activist group "Put People first PA!" is hosting Medicaid marches across the country. Marches are planned for Johnstown, Altoona, Pittsburgh and other cities throughout Pennsylvania. Organizers say the goal is to get Gov. Tom Wolf to address the pandemic by expanding Medicaid to all residents and establishing a public healthcare advocate.
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    Damon Sayles, Sr. Content Editor, MultiView, 469-420-2662 | Contribute news

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