All articles tagged with #medicaid
Two Gallup polls show that roughly one-third of Americans are cutting daily spending to cover medical costs, and about half of middle-income households have delayed major life events such as buying a home or starting a family because of health-care expenses, as premiums rise and Medicaid spending is trimmed.
House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington signaled a second post‑midterms reconciliation bill centered on fraud prevention in safety-net programs, reviving Medicaid‑spending cut ideas and offsetting new spending with Pentagon savings amid GOP internal doubts. The day also features a Senate housing package advancing with debates over CBDC and investor rules, while Republicans discuss renewing Section 702 surveillance and other election‑related reforms, all amid midterm pressures and intra‑party tensions.
An uptick in emergency-room visits for nontraumatic dental problems among children is tied to a shortage of pediatric dental care—especially in rural areas—and policy pressures like Medicaid cuts and rising anti-fluoride rhetoric, which threaten access to preventive care. ERs are often unable to provide comprehensive dental treatment, leading to temporary fixes and repeat visits, while states explore workforce and facility investments to improve access and prevent more severe cavities.
The article argues that major U.S. employers rely on public benefits like Medicaid and SNAP to subsidize their low-wage workforce, with only five of the top 20 employers paying median wages above the Medicaid/SNAP thresholds. Citing Walmart as a case and a report from the Institute for Policy Studies, it notes many workers rely on public coverage because employer-provided benefits are insufficient and warns that Republican cuts to Medicaid/SNAP will worsen hardship. It concludes that Medicaid/SNAP are essential supports for working Americans and that companies should acknowledge this subsidy and raise wages accordingly to protect both workers and the economy.
Minnesota has sued to block the Trump administration’s temporary withholding of about $243 million in Medicaid funds over fraud concerns, with Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison leading the legal challenge.
Idaho’s proposed budget could dissolve the state’s Medicaid-funded home-care and other disability services, prompting fears among families who rely on these programs and potentially forcing caregivers to leave or reduce work. Advocates warn the cuts could be devastating for people with disabilities and may make Idaho a bellwether for disability services amid broader Medicaid reductions, with hearings drawing hundreds of attendees.
The administration unveiled a multi-pronged plan to curb healthcare fraud, including deferring $259.5 million in Minnesota Medicaid payments pending review, a nationwide DMEPOS enrollment moratorium, and a CRUSH initiative inviting public input, all backed by real-time AI tools to detect and stop improper payments before they occur, aiming to reduce fraud, save taxpayer dollars, and improve affordability for patients.
The Trump administration said it will withhold $259 million in Minnesota Medicaid payments amid alleged health-care fraud, signaling a broader crackdown in the election year and potentially extending scrutiny to other states.
Sen. JD Vance and Health Administrator Oz announced that the Trump administration will temporarily halt over $250 million in Minnesota Medicaid reimbursements as part of a broader 'war on fraud,' tying the move to fraud concerns linked to Minnesota’s Somali population; Gov. Walz condemned the measure, and the administration signaled that more states could face similar actions, alongside a six-month nationwide moratorium on funding for durable medical equipment.
The Trump administration has paused $259 million in Minnesota's Medicaid funding, saying the state must address fraud allegations before funds are released. The move follows prior freezes of child care and social-services funds in Minnesota and other Democratic-led states. CMS officials claim scammers hijacked parts of the program, though Minnesota officials dispute the scope of fraud. Gov. Walz has 60 days to present a corrective action plan, and the administration signaled similar actions could target other states.
The Wisconsin Assembly voted 95-1 to join a federal program extending Medicaid coverage for low-income new mothers to 12 months after birth, up from 60 days, after Speaker Robin Vos dropped his opposition. The measure, already cleared by the Senate, now heads to Gov. Tony Evers, who is expected to sign. The policy carries an estimated state cost of about $9.4 million with federal funds covering roughly $14.1 million, and was supported by hospitals, medical groups, and advocates for mothers.
California debates a one-time 5% tax on assets over $1 billion to cover Medi-Cal costs lost to federal Medicaid cuts (OBBBA), while opponents warn it could drive billionaires out and weaken the economy; supporters view it as a needed fix for wealth inequality, with signature drives and a high-stakes November vote amid a broader political and business backlash.
CMS unveiled the first $10 billion of a five-year, $50 billion Rural Health Transformation program, distributing state grants from about $147 million to $281 million and adding a discretionary “technical score” portion that sparked questions about political influence. States must file revised budgets by Jan. 30 and wait for CMS approval before drawing funds; eight months remain to begin spending and demonstrate progress ahead of 2027 funding decisions. The money is intended to expand rural health access through telehealth, electronic health records upgrades, and workforce initiatives, while states also propose policy actions such as SNAP waivers, nutrition-related programs, fitness tests, and potential certificate-of-need reforms. Critics caution some funds could bypass rural hospitals, but CMS says the program is designed to be flexible to local needs and states are setting up offices and advisory groups to manage disbursement and oversight.
The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously upheld a 2024 law barring minors from cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers, and gender-transition surgeries and prohibiting Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming care for all ages, applying rational-basis review and rejecting discrimination claims; adults may still obtain care out-of-pocket, and challengers have not announced an appeal yet.
Montana stands to receive about $233.5 million in 2026 from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, with a potential total of roughly $1.2 billion by 2031 if funding remains level. The state’s plan centers on five initiatives—workforce development, facility sustainability, innovative care models, community health investment, and modern IT—plus a proposed Center of Excellence (costing about $418 million) to assess needs and guide service realignment. Physical infrastructure spending is largely restricted, but funds could cover equipment or IT upgrades; Montana will issue RFPs as projects are defined and submit a revised budget by Jan. 30, with an advisory committee to provide input during the process.