State Health Watch Archives – October 1, 2009
October 1, 2009
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For long-term care, shift to community- based services gains momentum
Some experts suggest that there is no question that programs transitioning nursing home patients to community-based services save money and are better for patients. -
Fiscal Fitness: How States Cope: Florida restores planned cuts to its Medically Needy program
Florida Medicaid is expected to receive about $5 billion from The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) during the 27-month period for which the stimulus package is in effect. -
Florida Medicaid gets HIT boost from federal stimulus
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides significant funding to create a national health information network for the exchange of electronic health records. -
HIN expected to roll out
Another significant and related HIT initiative under way is the Medicaid Health Information Network (HIN), which is expected to roll out this fall. -
Study says 45,000 Medicaid physicians are eligible for HIT funds
About 45,000 office-based physicians are eligible for up to $63,750 over six years to improve and maintain their health information technology (HIT) systems, as long as they see at least 30% Medicaid beneficiaries, or 20% for pediatricians, and demonstrate "meaningful use" of HIT, according to a new analysis by researchers at The George Washington University, funded through the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative. -
Medicaid pilots aim to integrate physical, behavioral health
A doctor treating a patient with diabetes has no idea that his patient is also being treated for schizophrenia. Likewise, the patient's psychiatrist doesn't know he's treating a diabetic. As a result, the care received by the patient is not optimal and could even be harmful. -
Medicaid programs get help in covering additional immigrant children
A growing number of states are providing health coverage to legal immigrant children and pregnant women through Medicaid or other state programs, under the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA). -
Out-of-pocket expenses for prescriptions surprisingly high
At the Rockville, MD-based Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) 2008 annual conference, Jessica S. Banthin, PhD, director of AHRQ's division of modeling and simulation in the center for financing, access and cost trends, was one of the presenters of a paper on "Prescription Drug Expenditures and Healthcare Burdens in the Medicaid Population." Dr. Banthin says this research still is a work in progress.