California ends longest budget stalemate in history; much-needed Medicaid funding to arrive
Sep 24, 2008
After a record 85-day lawmaker impasse, California finally has a new budget. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed the $143 billion spending bill Tuesday, nearly one-fourth of the way through the fiscal...
Home care suffers as states cut into Medicaid
Nov 21, 2008
Budget shortfalls in at least 15 states have led to severe reductions in funding for services for low-income seniors and those with disabilities, according to a news report.
Loopholes remain in rush to upgrade nursing home staffing requirements
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 28, 2021
Lawmakers in several states have turned their attention to a popular scapegoat of COVID-19’s virulent spread in long-term care: staffing levels.
One threat removed, but even bigger one remains
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 06, 2017
Make no mistake: Long-term care providers will take a victory wherever they can, and the Trump administration’s move to rescind the Obama administration’s ban on pre-dispute arbitration agreements...
Most states are not planning more Medicaid cuts in FY 2012
Feb 13, 2012
Most states do not foresee major mid-year cuts in Medicaid for fiscal year 2012, according to a Kaiser Health survey. While states authorized spending growth at a modest overall average of 2.2%, many states...
MedPAC: Promising care models for dual eligibles face challenges
Apr 06, 2010
Problems persist when it comes to enrolling seniors dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid into integrated care programs, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission staff recently said.
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...
GAO: Small percentage of Medicaid beneficiaries costing much more
May 11, 2015
The Government Accountability Office last week released findings showing 5% of Medicaid-only eligible enrollees accounted for nearly 50% of the billions of government dollars paid in Medicaid-only eligible...
States stagger under weight of Medicaid growth, new Kaiser reports find
Oct 01, 2010
As Medicaid enrollment grows at unprecedented rates, many state governments are trimming “optional” services for enrollees, according to a handful of new reports released Thursday by the Kaiser...
Deficit reduction and long-term care: Enjoy things while you can
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 03, 2011
If you thought the last few weeks of politicians’ stomach-turning brinksmanship over the national debt ceiling wasn’t fun — and who did? — you have no reason to look forward to the end...