Health News
- Cbo Estimates Court Ruling Will Mean 3 Million Fewer People Than Predicted Will Get Insurance, Saving Federal Government $84 Billion
The Congressional Budget Office estimates 3 million fewer people will get health insurance than expected before the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The CBO forecasts that will reduce the law's estimated...
- Governors In Both Parties Undecided On Whether To Expand Medicaid; Seeking Answers To Several Questions
There is hesitation among governors on both sides of the aisle regarding whether or not to expand Medicaid, which would cover millions more Americans under the program for the poor and disabled. "At least seven Democratic governors have been noncommittal...
- What's The Status Of A Health Insurance Exchange In Kentucky?
By Tara Kaprowy Kentucky Health News At the end of February, Kentucky received $57.8 million in federal funds to help set up a health insurance exchange or marketplace under federal health-care reform. Officials say all the money will be used to plan...
- Kentucky Receives $57.9 Million To Set Up Insurance Exchange
Kentucky received $57.9 million Wednesday to help set up a health insurance exchange or marketplace ? though lawmakers have made no move to make that happen. Kentucky is one of 10 states to receive this latest round of federal insurance exchange establishment...
- Kentucky And Most Other States Continue To Delay Action On Health-insurance Exchanges, Despite Jan. 1, 2013 Deadline
Though states must be able to prove whether or not they're ready to run a state insurance exchange by Jan. 1, 2013, many, including Kentucky, have not made any moves toward setting one up. Kentucky officials have said they are waiting for more guidance...
Health News
Kentucky and other states slow to adopt health-law mandates
Though it's one of the centerpieces of the new health care law, most states have not taken steps to establish a health insurance exchange, and that incluides Kentucky. The exchanges are meant to make it easier and less expensive for people who buy their own coverage to compare health plans.
"So much of this stuff is speculation," state Rep. Tom Burch (D-Louisville) told The Washington Post when asked why the state has not moved to set up an exchange. He said his party was "simply waiting for the Obama administration to issue regulations spelling out federal requirements in more detail." Burch is chairman of the House Health and Welfare Committee.
Despite a deadline of January 2013 to prove to the federal government they are getting ready to establish the exchanges, just seven states have adopted laws that outline the details of them. Two others, Virginia and North Dakota, have adopted legislation showing intent to form an exchange. Seven more states have not passed any legislation that pertains to an exchange, but have accepted grants meant to prepare for them. More than 10 states have defeated or haven't acted on proposed bills to establish exchanges. About 13 other states haven't even broached the matter on their committee floors.
States also seem to be grappling with an impending Medicaid deadline. Because the new health-care law expanded the income guidelines for Medicaid eligibility, states will have to provide care for a broader range of Americans starting in 2014. But a report by the National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers shows that states are struggling to pay for the program as it is now.
The report shows 43 states have passed laws to contain Medicaid costs, and nearly half of the states have reduced payments to physicians, hospitals and other health-care providers. More than 20 have agreed to lower spending on prescription drugs, and 20 have restricted some services. For the coming year, "45 governors proposed further cuts, the report says, without specifying which reductions were adopted by legislators," Goldstein and Aisenman report. (Read more)
Kentucky legislators grappled in a special session to fill a $166 million gap in Medicaid funding this year, and the state is turning to managed-care organizations to run the program.
The report shows 43 states have passed laws to contain Medicaid costs, and nearly half of the states have reduced payments to physicians, hospitals and other health-care providers. More than 20 have agreed to lower spending on prescription drugs, and 20 have restricted some services. For the coming year, "45 governors proposed further cuts, the report says, without specifying which reductions were adopted by legislators," Goldstein and Aisenman report. (Read more)
Kentucky legislators grappled in a special session to fill a $166 million gap in Medicaid funding this year, and the state is turning to managed-care organizations to run the program.
- Cbo Estimates Court Ruling Will Mean 3 Million Fewer People Than Predicted Will Get Insurance, Saving Federal Government $84 Billion
The Congressional Budget Office estimates 3 million fewer people will get health insurance than expected before the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The CBO forecasts that will reduce the law's estimated...
- Governors In Both Parties Undecided On Whether To Expand Medicaid; Seeking Answers To Several Questions
There is hesitation among governors on both sides of the aisle regarding whether or not to expand Medicaid, which would cover millions more Americans under the program for the poor and disabled. "At least seven Democratic governors have been noncommittal...
- What's The Status Of A Health Insurance Exchange In Kentucky?
By Tara Kaprowy Kentucky Health News At the end of February, Kentucky received $57.8 million in federal funds to help set up a health insurance exchange or marketplace under federal health-care reform. Officials say all the money will be used to plan...
- Kentucky Receives $57.9 Million To Set Up Insurance Exchange
Kentucky received $57.9 million Wednesday to help set up a health insurance exchange or marketplace ? though lawmakers have made no move to make that happen. Kentucky is one of 10 states to receive this latest round of federal insurance exchange establishment...
- Kentucky And Most Other States Continue To Delay Action On Health-insurance Exchanges, Despite Jan. 1, 2013 Deadline
Though states must be able to prove whether or not they're ready to run a state insurance exchange by Jan. 1, 2013, many, including Kentucky, have not made any moves toward setting one up. Kentucky officials have said they are waiting for more guidance...