Medicaid Watch newsletter 12-31-10

Posted on: 01/06/2011

News Clippings

Attached is the January 1, 2011 issue of the MEDICAID WATCH. Noteable and recent state developments and proposals that expand access and eligibility appear in blue, while noteworthy and recent state developments and proposals that reduce access and eligibility are printed in red. The last two pages contain a regularly-updated and current listing of sources and resources on state-level health coverage, with the most relevant news, facts and documents highlighted in yellow..

The MEDICAID WATCH doesn't cover only state-level Medicaid eligibility and access news; it also reports on other state health assistance programs, including:

* the State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP);

*states' own non-federally-funded medical assistance programs;

*State Pharmacy Assistance Programs (SPAPs);

*State AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs);

*state-subsidized or -sponsored health insurance programs for limited income persons;

*state-subsidized high risk health insurance pools (including premium discounts given by some risk pools

to those with incomes under state-set levels); and

*safety-net hospitals offering free or discounted care to the indigent.

For each state, we note, as percentages of the 2010 annual Federal Poverty Level (FPL), the most recently-tabulated income eligibility levels for Medicaid for the aged and disabled; for parents; and for childless, non-disabled adults (if they get Medicaid through an eligibility expansion, a waiver or via some other public Medicaid-like state program). We also note eligibility levels for SCHIP; ADAPs; SPAPs; state-subsidized or -sponsored health insurance; states' Medicare Savings Program (MSP) income and asset eligibility liberalizations that exceed the federal minimums; and income eligibility levels for any pre-health reform state-only-funded risk pools' low income premium discount programs.

Details on state income and asset levels, their income disregards, a "2010-11 VA Health...Benefits" guide and a helpful "Glossary" of words, terms, abbreviations and acronyms used in health policy discussion and reporting (especially in the eligibility area) appear in those documents that are listed below "From the Community Access National Network (CANN)" among "Other Organizations' Materials" under the "Medicaid" heading at www.healthlaw.org .

Because so may states now face severe budget shortages (which in the past they've typically responded to by cutting eligibility, covered benefits and provider payments) it's important that advocates become schooled in other, less-familiar money-saving techniques that can restrain or even reduce state costs for Medicaid and other state-funded health assistance programs. Advocates should aggressively insist that these other approaches be tried too before health administrators, Governors and legislators resort to their first, typical, easy-to-implement solutions: imposing harmful cuts in eligibility, covered services and already-too-low provider fees. Contact me at the email address below to get a paper summarizing less harmful budget-saving methods and then, if necessary, to discuss their applicability to your state.

Please share this with your colleagues and affiliates at the state and local level. We welcome your comments, news items and corrections; email me at tomxix@ix.netcom.com .

Regards,

Thomas P. McCormack

Editor, MEDICAID WATCH

&
Public Benefits Policy Consultant
Community Access National Network (TIICANN)
www.tiicann.org
Washington, DC
(202) 479-2543

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Medicaid Watch newsletter 12-31-10

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