Weekly Medicaid Update

Oct 25, 2023 | Medicaid

The brief highlights recent Medicaid policy developments in key states over the past week, including, but not limited to: IL: Pauses enrollment in Medicaid program expanding coverage to non-citizen seniors MA: CMS approves state plan amendment making PDN rate enhancements permanent SD: ~14% of newly eligible residents have signed up for Medicaid in first 60 days of the Medicaid expansion program Click to read more.

The Behavioral Health Ecosystem: When Will Policy Catch Up To Innovation?

Oct 24, 2023 | Behavioral, BRG Publications

This special report highlights the complex ecosystem that compromises behavioral health in the United States. The Behavioral Health Ecosystem explores policy limitations, nonprofit and commercial health plan responses, and other topics affecting behavioral health in 2023 including telehealth, staffing, and quality. Save the date for a discussion on the report Friday, November 10 at 12pm ET. Click here to read more. 

Managed Care Friday

Oct 20, 2023 | Managed Care Friday

145,000: The number of health care providers that left their jobs across 2021 through 2022 – almost half of them physicians, according to a data analysis by Definitive Healthcare. Worryingly, specialties that lost the most providers were internal medicine, family medicine, and clinical psychologists. Any Guess? The largest healthcare union is, wait for it, in Minnesota…where providers at Allina Health recently voted to unionize, which will create the largest healthcare union in the U.S. Union Deal: Healthcare unions have been in the spotlight recently – unions representing 85,000 Kaiser...

Weekly Medicaid Update

Oct 18, 2023 | Medicaid

The brief highlights recent Medicaid policy developments in key states over the past week, including, but not limited to: CA – Governor signs bill to phase-in $25 health care minimum wage FL – Releases invitation to negotiate for dental plan reprocurement NE – Expands adult dental benefit Click to read more. 

Managed Care Friday

Oct 13, 2023 | Managed Care Friday

About 80: Types of virtual care losing insurance coverage in December under a new Aetna policy. Coverage ends for some behavioral care services, ophthalmological care, services related to end-stage renal disease and more, according to a notice sent to providers. The health plan will also end audio-only coverage of nearly 60 services, including psychotherapy, counseling for alcohol use disorder, and obesity counseling. We reached out for comment last week and expect a response shortly. Watch Out: Samsung is working with several health systems, including Mass General and Tulane School of...

Weekly Medicaid Update

Oct 11, 2023 | Medicaid

The brief highlights recent Medicaid policy developments in key states over the past week, including, but not limited to: AR: Completes Medicaid redetermination process CA: Introduces fee-for-service Medi-Cal dental coverage in Sacramento MN: Implements double digit rate increases for home and personal care service VA: Expands school-based services coverage Click to read more.

Managed Care Friday

Oct 6, 2023 | Managed Care Friday

1.8 Million: The number of people who received an updated COVID vaccine the week ending September 22. The number isn’t as high as many health professionals hoped, likely due to some glitches with the rollout and lessened demand. The cost for COVID vaccines has also switched from the government over to commercial insurance plans, possibly leading some to forgo the shot due to worry about potential copays, though health plans are not allowed to charge. Let The Drug Price Tactics Begin: Medicare Advantage insurer SCAN is getting ahead of the government's planned drug price negotiations by...

Weekly Medicaid Update

Oct 4, 2023 | Medicaid

The brief highlights recent Medicaid policy developments in key states over the past week, including, but not limited to: FL: Standardizes core assessment requirements for behavior analysis IL: Proposes rate increases for private duty nursing and ambulance services NH: Proposes rate increases for ambulance, home health and more NY: Loosens coverage criteria for continuous glucose monitoring Click to read more.