State Medicaid programs spent $329 million more than necessary by allowing certain prescriptions for brand-name drugs to be filled instead of generics in 2009, a conservative think tank said this week.
State Medicaid funding reduction looms; nursing home advocates urge caution on Medicaid reforms
Mar 29, 2011
The federal government on Friday will scale back the amount of Medicaid money it sends to states as one phase of a temporary increase to the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) comes to an end.
Proposed state Medicaid cuts cause backlash from nursing home operators, wouldn’t close budget...
Mar 28, 2011
Medicaid cost-cutting strategies the Department of Health and Human Services has suggested to states will not be enough to close $175 billion in cumulative budget gaps—and that’s the way it should...
HHS sending teams of budget experts to troubled states for Medicaid help
Feb 24, 2011
In an effort to help keep Medicaid off the chopping block in states with budget shortfalls, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has offered to send teams of HHS staffers to states that...
Briefing to discuss new long-term care data, opportunities in health reform law
Feb 04, 2011
The future of long-term care under specific provisions in the healthcare reform law will be the focus of a policy briefing at 10 a.m. (Eastern) Monday at the Kaiser Family Foundation’s headquarters...
Republicans in the House
By
Liza Berger
Jan 06, 2011
A new party has taken control of the House of Representatives. What does that mean for healthcare and specifically long-term care? We soon shall see.
Medicaid a possible target as governors warn constituents about budget struggles
Jan 05, 2011
New governors, 26 of whom were elected in November, are facing deep fiscal problems. Many are taking a hard look at Medicaid as a source of budget savings.
What a year it was for nursing homes!
By
Liza Berger
Dec 29, 2010
It’s too bad that 2010 should end with a damning report about Medicare overbilling. It’s not exactly the best way for nursing home providers to greet the new year.
Deficit commission votes not to send proposals to Congress
Dec 06, 2010
A commission charged with finding ways to reduce the deficit last week voted against proposals that recommend killing the CLASS Act and increasing the Social Security retirement age.
Groups release blueprint in response to New York’s call to overhaul Medicaid spending
Nov 29, 2010
Two groups recently unveiled a blueprint for home- and community-based services reform in New York. The report is in response to a call from the Citizens Budget Commission to fundamentally restructure...