Weekly Medicaid Update

The brief highlights recent Medicaid policy developments in key states over the past week, including, but not limited to: CA: State to extend Medi-Cal benefits to undocumented seniors in May CO: Medicaid partners with state health insurance exchange to implement redetermination NY: Prior authorization no longer required for MAT drugs Click to read more.

Managed Care Friday

135M: The amount the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Protection Act, which was signed into law last week, will provide to support the mental health of healthcare workers. The bill was named in honor of Dr. Lorna Breen, the ER Director at NY-Presbyterian Hospital who died by suicide in April 2020. She was one of many frontline healthcare workers who struggled with their mental health during the COVID pandemic. “Physicians are at a significantly increased risk of suicide compared to the general population, with suicide rates 40% higher in males and 130% higher in females,” Dr. Madara, CEO of the...

Weekly Medicaid Update

The brief highlights recent Medicaid policy developments in key states over the past week, including, but not limited to: IN: New law increases Medicaid income eligibility threshold for pregnant women MA: Supplemental payments for adult day health providers SC: Rate increase for home delivered meals Click to read more.

CMS Releases Data On The Use Of SUD Services

A recent review of Medicaid data presented to Congress by the Department of Health and Human Services shows which beneficiaries receive care for substance use disorder (SUD) and the types of services they are receiving. While acute care remains the most common service that beneficiaries receive, data showed a slight decrease in percentage points of individuals with an SUD receiving those services, while there was a large increase in use of MAT services between 2018 and 2019. Click to read more.

Managed Care Friday

1,300: Number of hospitals, payers and students who weighed in on the nursing shortage in our special report. Like Arleth Flores, the 24-year-old nursing grad who wants to work at a local school and urgent care center but is waiting due to delays in administering the board test.  Nurse staffing challenges are likely here to stay over the next few years but lawmakers, health systems and even educators are trying to create solutions in real-time, like Evolve Health’s new hospital alliance that shares HR best practices on employee well-being, diversity and inclusion program implementation, and...