Medicaid

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed 17 laws, including regulations for cryptocurrency ATMs under House Bill 920 and property tax changes via Senate Bill 474. The laws include measures to limit crypto ATM fees, require fraud warnings, and adjust property tax revaluation moratoriums in specific counties.

Families of disabled children in North Carolina face significant challenges in finding affordable and accessible childcare, leading to long waitlists, high costs, and untrained staff. State lawmaker Zack Hawkins, a father of two children with autism, advocates for policy changes, including recent budget allocations for higher pay for direct-support professionals and increased Medicaid funding for disability resources.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS Administrator under President Trump, accused blue states like California of exploiting Medicaid fraud as a 'feature' to fund state programs and pay unemployed individuals. He criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for not addressing widespread fraud, leading to a $1.3 billion cut in the state's Medicaid reimbursements by the Trump administration.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS Administrator under President Donald Trump, accused blue states like California of exploiting Medicaid fraud as a 'feature' to fund state programs and create economic incentives. He criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom for not addressing widespread fraud despite internal warnings and cited a $1.3 billion cut in Medicaid reimbursements to the state.

Minnesota will receive over $850,000 from a $36.5 million national settlement with CVS Health Corporation over insulin billing fraud. The settlement addresses CVS's over-billing of government-funded healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

A new Medicaid work requirement may jeopardize health insurance for farmworkers due to their seasonal and informal employment patterns. The rule, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, mandates 80 hours of monthly work or education, posing challenges for workers with inconsistent hours and cash-based jobs.

Washington state's WA Cares program, the nation’s first state-operated long-term care insurance, began distributing benefits in July 2023. Funded by a 0.58% payroll tax surcharge, it offers lifetime benefits of up to $36,500 for those contributing for 10 years. The program aims to address gaps in Medicare and Medicaid coverage for long-term care, with 3.7 million workers participating in 2023.

New Medicaid work requirements may threaten health insurance for farmworkers due to their seasonal and informal employment patterns. The rule requires 80 hours of monthly work or education/volunteer activities, complicating eligibility for those with inconsistent income or cash-based jobs. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Donald Trump, mandates these requirements in most states starting January 1.

A study found that Medicaid patients receiving home-delivered, medically tailored meals had 31% fewer hospitalizations and 20% fewer emergency department visits, with per-person health costs declining by $3,433. The program, part of the 'food is medicine' movement, is offered in states like Massachusetts and has shown significant clinical and cost benefits.

The article discusses Michigan's preparation for a major Medicaid overhaul with six months remaining, highlighting the Dreams Unlimited Clubhouse in Royal Oak, a Medicaid-funded mental health rehabilitation program where individuals like Emily Katz develop job and life skills.

Florida's high SNAP error rate could cost the state up to $1 billion, with Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried alleging the errors are intentional to limit program participation. USDA data shows Florida's 12.97% error rate exceeds the national average, potentially requiring state contributions to the federal food program for the first time.

Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood and two smaller providers is resuming after being cut off for most of a year due to a provision in President Donald Trump’s tax and policy law. The defunding led to clinic closures and reduced services, including fewer breast cancer screenings and birth control dispersions, though the restored funding does not cover abortion services.

Several states, including Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia, have enacted laws to expand or protect access to contraception. These measures include allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control, requiring health plans to cover contraception, and establishing legal rights to contraception access.

A study found that Medicaid patients receiving home-delivered medically tailored meals had 31% fewer hospitalizations and 20% fewer emergency department visits, with per-person healthcare costs decreasing by $3,433. States like Massachusetts, California, and New York offer such programs for conditions like diabetes and heart disease, part of the 'food is medicine' movement.

Virginia lawmakers allocated $15 million over two years to expand Medicaid coverage for gene therapy treatments for sickle cell disease. The funding enables Virginia to separately pay for gene therapy drugs and associated care, improving access for Medicaid patients. Sentara-EVMS Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program serves over 200 adults in Hampton Roads, referring eligible patients to VCU Health for gene therapy, which involves a complex, months-long process including chemotherapy and cell infusion.

Ohio experienced the largest drop in Affordable Care Act enrollment after pandemic-era subsidies expired, with a 32.4% decline in enrollees. Federal data shows national enrollment fell by 10%, while Ohio lost nearly a third of its enrollees, attributed to Republican-controlled Congress allowing subsidies to lapse. Medicaid cuts and rising premiums are expected to increase the uninsured population.

A study by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio found that costs, provider availability, and insurance limitations are the primary barriers preventing Ohio children from accessing mental healthcare. Nearly half of families cited unaccepted insurance, 40% cited provider availability, and 29% cited cost as obstacles. Commercial insurance plans in Ohio often lack coverage for critical mental health services compared to Medicaid.

A study found that Medicaid patients receiving home-delivered, medically tailored meals had 31% fewer hospitalizations and 20% fewer ER visits, with per-person health costs decreasing by $3,433. The program, offered in states like Massachusetts, is part of a 'food is medicine' movement aimed at improving health outcomes through nutrition.

A Minneapolis home care company, Agape Home Health Services LLC, is suing Minnesota's Department of Human Services (DHS) over suspended Medicaid payments, claiming the state failed to provide specific evidence of fraud. The case was moved to federal court by the state due to constitutional due process claims, with potential implications for other providers facing similar payment suspensions. Agape argues shared ownership with a fraud-investigated company, Healthy Living Home Health Care, does not justify the suspension.

Pennsylvania advocates warn that new Medicaid work requirements, set to take effect in January, could disproportionately impact individuals with mental health issues, substance use disorders, and serious illnesses. Initial estimates suggested over 300,000 residents might lose coverage, but advocates now fear the actual impact could be worse due to new exemption hurdles for vulnerable populations.

Medicaid patients receiving home-delivered medically tailored meals had 31% fewer hospitalizations and 20% fewer ER visits, with per-person health costs decreasing by $3,433. The study, conducted in Massachusetts, highlights the 'food is medicine' approach to managing diet-related diseases through customized nutrition.

One year after President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Pennsylvania saw an 11% drop in SNAP enrollment, with 98,000 fewer participants due to new work requirements. The law includes Medicaid work requirements and tax cuts for billionaires, criticized by Rep. Brendan Boyle as disproportionately harming the poor and increasing the national deficit.

Virginia's budget has expanded Medicaid access to include sickle cell gene therapy. However, providers note that the treatment remains a long, expensive, and difficult process to access.

Healthfirst and the Chinese-American Planning Council hosted an event in Manhattan's Chinatown to inform older adults about Medicare and Medicaid plan changes and health resources. The event featured explanations of recent CMS policy updates, wellness activities like a sodium demonstration and chive planting, and bilingual support in English and Chinese.

Several states, including Republican-led Georgia and Tennessee, and Democratic-led Maryland and Virginia, have passed laws to expand or protect access to contraception. Measures include allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control without a doctor’s signature, requiring health plans to cover contraceptives, and establishing legal rights to contraception.

Minnesota's Legislature remains closely divided, with key races in competitive districts like District 3 potentially determining control. The Senate race in District 3 pits Grant Hauschild against Andrea Zupancich, while the House race in 3B features Natalie Zeleznikar and Aaron Schweiger. Issues like data centers, Medicaid, and gun regulation are central to these contests.

Derion Blackman died from heart failure after his new health insurance plan, CHAMPVA, delayed approval of his post-transplant medications. The transition from his previous Federal Employees Health Benefits plan to CHAMPVA created bureaucratic hurdles that left him without critical drugs. The article highlights systemic issues in the U.S. healthcare system, including rising costs and fragmented coverage.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signed a $34 billion budget with a 3% raise for state employees, a personal income tax cut, and significant teacher pay increases. The budget includes Medicaid funding, Hurricane Helene relief, and criticism over cuts to diversity initiatives and state positions.

Government funding for Planned Parenthood and two smaller regional abortion providers has resumed for non-abortion services after being cut off for most of a year under a Trump-era policy. The defunding contributed to clinic closures and reduced healthcare services like breast cancer screenings and birth control distribution, though Medicaid billing for non-abortion services restarted. Over 30 clinics have closed, and patient access to care has declined in some areas.

A year after President Trump signed the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' Arizona Democrats warn of increasing Medicaid and SNAP coverage losses. Over 300,000 Arizonans lost SNAP benefits in six months, and healthcare coverage dropped by more than 121,000 since 2025. New Medicaid requirements threaten 1.8 million enrolled Arizonans.

Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood and two smaller providers has resumed after being cut off for most of a year due to a provision in President Donald Trump’s 2022 tax and policy law. The defunding led to clinic closures, reduced services like breast cancer screenings and STI testing, and limited abortion access in some states.

Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood and two smaller abortion providers has resumed after being cut off for most of a year due to a provision in President Donald Trump’s 2022 tax and policy law. The defunding led to clinic closures and reduced services like breast cancer screenings and STI testing, though not all services will return. Some states, like Maine and Massachusetts, maintained coverage through state-funded Medicaid reimbursements.

Federal data shows a significant decline in Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollments across many states, with Ohio and Oklahoma losing nearly one-third of enrollees. The drop, attributed to expired enhanced subsidies and stricter enrollment rules, resulted in 2.6 million fewer Americans with ACA coverage in February 2023 compared to the prior year.

Planned Parenthood has regained access to federal funding, allowing clinics to bill Medicaid for non-abortion care starting July 5. This reversal one year after Republicans cut off Medicaid funding has angered anti-abortion conservatives.

Medicaid coverage for non-abortion care at Planned Parenthood resumes as a GOP-imposed ban expires, leading to clinic closures and Republican efforts to reinstate the prohibition. Planned Parenthood reported losing nearly 30 clinics and facing challenges in sustaining care for Medicaid patients, while GOP lawmakers aim to extend the ban through new legislation.

New York City health officials are preparing for new Medicaid work requirements. The city's budget allocates $3 million to hire community health workers to assist with navigating these changes. Dr. Alister Martin, the newly appointed Health Commissioner, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani were present at a related press conference.

The Trump administration's new Medicaid work rule requires recipients to document exemptions, such as a doctor's note, to avoid losing coverage starting next year. Consumer advocates warn the policy may disproportionately affect individuals unable to meet work requirements.

Ohio economists are divided on the effectiveness of Senate Bill 315, which aims to reduce Medicaid fraud through measures like payment suspensions, enhanced penalties, and electronic verification. Some economists believe the reforms could yield fiscal savings, while others argue the administrative costs may outweigh benefits. The bill, awaiting Governor Mike DeWine’s signature, also sparks debate over potential impacts on access for vulnerable populations.

Georgia's uninsured rate for young children increased from 5.1% to 6.6% between 2022 and 2024, exceeding the national average and Alabama's 4.1%. A Georgetown University report highlights a national rise in uninsured children under six, with Georgia, Texas, and Florida accounting for over half the increase, partly linked to Medicaid unwinding and enrollment challenges.

Church members with political disagreements are collaborating to eliminate medical debt. The article highlights healthcare as a politically divisive issue, with Democrats and Republicans clashing over policies like the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.