New York Approves FY 2021 Budget, Medicaid Highlights

Apr 13, 2020 | Medicaid

On April 3, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the state’s fiscal year 2021 budget, which increased Medicaid spending by 3%, or about $500 million. According to New York’s Budget Director, the state delayed additional Medicaid program cuts; however, the state plans to make the provisions effective after the COVID-19 pandemic crisis is over. Click to read more.

Managed Care Friday

Apr 10, 2020 | Managed Care Friday

50: The percent of alcohol sales growth across the country that addiction recovery provider, Eleanor Health, has noted since the virus started. “People are using more substances to cope,” Nzinga Harrison, MD, Chief Medical Officer, reported live on our behavioral health forum April 3rd. “We know this is a high stress time.” Harrison said that the company’s value-based structure has been helpful to stay in touch with patients and continue providing services. If you missed, reach out for a recording. Sepsis Implications: An untreated UTI can lead to sepsis, and a family doctor running a small...

BRG Medicaid Update

Apr 8, 2020 | Medicaid

The brief highlights recent Medicaid policy developments in key states over the past week. Click to read more.

Increasing Prices of Medical Goods and Services is a Major Driver of Health Spending Growth

Apr 7, 2020 | Commercial Insurance, Dental, DMEPOS, Drugs, Home Health, Hospitals, Medicaid, Medicare, Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)

National Health Expenditure (NHE) projections, released in March, point to increasing prices of medical goods and services as a major driver of health spending growth, from 3.6T in 2018 to 6.2T in 2028. NHE forecasts do not account for changes in spending under COVID-19. This brief will take a look at recently released projections. Click to read more.

Managed Care Friday

Apr 3, 2020 | Managed Care Friday

Allergy Pop: A biologist from New Mexico has created a special lollipop to help with allergies, which is probably well-timed as we head into allergy season and a prolonged pandemic. The biologist was selling the pops out of a strip mall in Santa Fe, but in a bit of kismet, started selling them through Amazon in early February. The biologist, Cliff Han, claims they sort of help turn off the immune system that makes you sneeze or cough. The AllerPops are made with sugars and amino acids to promote good bacteria, but they have not been evaluated by the FDA nor do allergists necessarily buy-in....