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Advocates worry new law could lead to vulnerable Ohioans being kicked off Medicaid
By: Karen Kasler | Statehouse News Bureau
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (Statehouse News Bureau) — The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency that the federal government declared in January 2020 is set to expire on Saturday. That’s likely to be extended till July. But when it does expire, hundreds of thousands of Ohioans will lose that coverage. The federal government banned states from kicking people off Medicaid… Read More
A staffing crisis is causing a monthslong wait for Medicaid, and it could get worse
By: Bram Sable Smith | Rachana Pradhan | Kaiser Health News
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SALEM, Mo. (NPR) — Korra Elliott has tried to avoid seeing a doctor while waiting to get on Medicaid. She worries she can’t afford more bills without any insurance coverage. But in early March — five months, she said, after applying and with still no decision about her application — a suspected case of the… Read More
Ohio AG Settles With Pharmacy Benefits Manager For $88.3 Million
By: Karen Kasler | Statehouse News Bureau
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (Statehouse News Bureau) — Ohio has settled a lawsuit filed just three months ago with a pharmacy benefits manager it accused of using subcontractors to overcharge Ohio’s Medicaid program. Attorney General Dave Yost said Centene initiated the talks that led to the $88.3 million settlement. “We didn’t seek out a settlement. Centene initiated the… Read More
Ohio Bill Toughening Welfare Program Eligibility Criticized
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Social service advocates are criticizing an Ohio bill that would toughen eligibility for food stamps and Medicaid benefits. Beefed up monitoring of changes in food stamp recipients’ income would be required along with photos on state food stamp cards, called EBT cards, under legislation proposed by Sen. Tim Schaffer, a Lancaster… Read More
$2.4 Billion In Federal Medicaid Funds Helps Ohio Avoid Big Budget Hole
By: Karen Kasler | Statehouse News Bureau
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (Statehouse News Bureau) — The increase in Ohio Medicaid caseloads could have blown a hole in the new two-year state budget. But the spending plan includes a huge infusion of federal cash for the state’s largest part of the budget, the health insurance program for the poor. The federal government is continuing a temporary… Read More
Ohio’s Medicaid Program To Get Major Overhaul
By: Jo Ingles | Statehouse News Bureau
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (Statehouse News Bureau) — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is ready to tackle reforming managed care in the Ohio Medicaid program. Three million people – one in three Ohioans – are covered by Medicaid, the state’s largest program. DeWine said this will be the first major overhaul in 15 years. “A new vision for Ohio’s… Read More
Ohio Tax Collections Up, But So Are Medicaid Caseloads
By: Karen Kasler | Statehouse News Bureau
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (Statehouse News Bureau) — After three months of declines, Ohio took in 8 percent more in taxes than the Office of Budget and Management estimated, though much of that is connected to the delay of the tax deadline to July 15. But there was a different kind of growth in the state’s July report that could… Read More
Ohio Medicaid Seeks Ideas for Improving Patient Experiences
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Ohio’s Medicaid department is asking for input from companies and organizations familiar with the program on how to improve the experience of patients. A formal request for information released Tuesday outlines the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s vision for reimagining the program. The request is specifically directed at providers, associations, advocacy groups,… Read More
Trump Administration Offers States A Way To Block Grant Medicaid
By: Selena Simmons-Duffin | NPR
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States can now apply to set up their Medicaid program with capped funding from the federal government. With this move, the administration delivers on a long-held conservative goal.
Waiver Gives Ohio More Options in Treating Opioid Addiction
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The federal government is allowing Ohio more flexibility in what services it can provide to Medicaid patients addicted to opioids. The expanded options are coming through a substance use disorder demonstration waiver that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently approved. Gov. Mike DeWine says the waiver will help the… Read More
Governor: Ohio Medicaid Lead Abatement Plan Gets Federal OK
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Gov. Mike DeWine says Ohio’s Department of Medicaid has received federal approval for its plan to enhance and expand Medicaid’s lead abatement program. DeWine said in a release Tuesday that the Children’s Health Insurance Program initiative was recently approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He says that means… Read More
State Data: Number of Children Enrolled in Medicaid Declines
By: Associated Press
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AKRON, Ohio (AP) – State data shows the number of children enrolled in Ohio’s Medicaid program declined over a 15-month period, with nearly 37,000 fewer children enrolled as of May of this year, compared to February 2018. Ohio had previously seen progress for nearly a decade in efforts to make sure every child had health… Read More
Feds Announce $17M Settlement with Health Care Firm in W.Va.
By: Associated Press
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – Federal prosecutors say they’ve reached a $17 million settlement with a health care company accused of Medicaid fraud in West Virginia. U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart announced the civil settlement with Acadia on Monday, saying it’s the largest health care fraud settlement in state history. Stuart says Acadia, though its subsidiary CRC… Read More
Ohio Medicaid Wellness Initiatives To Include Quitting Smoking
By: Karen Kasler | Statehouse News Bureau
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Gov. Mike DeWine is revealing more about the wellness initiatives that he wants to implement for the 2.8 million people on Medicaid in Ohio, including the 677,000 in Medicaid expansion. DeWine says he’ll make quitting smoking one of his Medicaid wellness initiatives. “If we can help them get healthier, it’s going to be better for… Read More
Federal Judge Again Blocks New Medicaid Rules in Kentucky
By: Associated Press
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FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – A federal judge has once again blocked new rules for Kentucky’s Medicaid program that would require people to get a job, go to school or volunteer to keep their health benefits. Kentucky Republican Gov. Matt Bevin has been trying to implement the new rules since January 2018, when he first got… Read More
Ohio Gets Go-Ahead For Work Requirements For Medicaid Expansion
By: Karen Kasler | Statehouse News Bureau
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The federal government says Ohio can join the eight other states that have been given permission to impose work requirements on people in Medicaid expansion. When it’s implemented, recipients who aren’t over 50, disabled or caregivers will have to prove they’re working 20 hours a week, or are in job training or college, or doing… Read More
State Saved $4.4B According To Report From Health Plans
By: Andy Chow | Statehouse News Bureau
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The group that represents Ohio’s Medicaid health plans says their managed care process is saving the state about $2.2 billion a year. But critics say there are several improvements that can still be made. Miranda Motter, president/CEO of the Ohio Association of Health Plans, says the report outlines how the private health plans provide accountability, quality care and… Read More
Senator Sponsors Bill To Require 20-Hour Workweek For More Medicaid Recipients
By: Karen Kasler | Statehouse News Bureau
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Ohio is among 15 states that have asked the federal government for permission to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients. Ohio’s request would cover people up to age 50, but a state senator has proposed a bill that would go further. The bill sponsored by Sen. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) would require 20 hours of work per… Read More
Kentucky Delays Start Time for Some New Medicaid Rules
By: Associated Press
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FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – State officials in Kentucky have delayed the start of some new eligibility rules for a portion of its Medicaid population. Kentucky is one of 36 states to expand its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act to cover more people. President Donald Trump’s administration gave Kentucky permission to require those people… Read More
Kentucky Residents Again Seek To Block New Medicaid Rules
By: Associated Press
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FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Sixteen Kentucky residents have again asked a federal judge to block new eligibility requirements for Medicaid. The group, led by a trio of advocacy organizations, wants a federal judge to block Republican Gov. Matt Bevin’s plan that would require some Medicaid recipients to get a job, go to school or volunteer… Read More
Benefit Cuts Announced In Kentucky Following Medicaid Ruling
By: Associated Press
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration says dental and vision coverage is being cut for nearly a half-million Kentuckians due to a ruling that rejected the state’s Medicaid overhaul plan. The state Cabinet for Health and Family Services says the cuts in coverage are an “unfortunate consequence” of the federal judge’s ruling last… Read More
Providers In Medicaid Redesign Say ‘Rapid Response’ Isn’t Rapid
By: Karen Kasler | Statehouse News Bureau
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On Sunday, the state will officially move providers of behavioral health services for low-income Ohioans into Medicaid managed care. That’s a huge change for how they get paid for providing addiction and mental illness treatment, family counseling and other services. And these last few days are causing lots of worry for some of those providers…. Read More
Southeast Ohioans Still Fearful of Obamacare Replacement Plan
By: Brooke Davis
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ATHENS, Ohio – Local healthcare advocates and area residents said they continue to be concerned that the Affordable Care Act/Medicaid will be replaced by President Trump’s American Health Care Act, even after the president’s bill was pulled Friday before a vote could be taken. The cause of concern is that the American Health Care Act… Read More
Kasich Hopeful Lawmakers will OK Medicaid Expansion Funding
By: Associated Press
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Gov. John Kasich says he’s hopeful state lawmakers will approve money that supports his expansion of Medicaid. The governor’s $72.3 billion, two-year spending blueprint sets aside funds to cover the more than 500,000 low-income Ohioans who enrolled in the federal-state health program after Kasich extended Medicaid eligibility under President Barack Obama’s health overhaul. The GOP-dominated… Read More
Ohio Medicaid Drops 4,200 Providers In Error After Glitch
By: Associated Press
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The Ohio Department of Medicaid says it erroneously sent about 4,200 letters to doctors and health workers last week notifying them they had been dropped from the Medicaid program. Ohio Medicaid spokesman Sam Rossi tells The Columbus Dispatch that the letters were the result of a coding mistake made during a routine system update Wednesday…. Read More