State Health Watch Archives – April 1, 2009
April 1, 2009
View Issues
-
Federal aid to Medicaid: It could mean the most severe cuts will now be reversed
State Medicaid programs are reporting dramatic surges in enrollment, as the number of unemployed Americans now eligible continues to rise. At the same time, staffing resources often are frozen or being cut, and budget cuts still threaten eligibility, with the downturn expected to continue at least through the next fiscal year. -
Fiscal Fitness: How States Cope: North Carolina Medicaid asks its providers to help avoid cuts
Provider rate cuts were likely avoided by North Carolina's Medicaid program because of alternatives suggested by providers themselves. -
Enrollment surge shows no sign of slowing down
How much will Medicaid enrollment increase, and how will this ultimately compare to previous downturns? The answers to these two questions still are unknown, according to Edwin Park, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, but both depend on unemployment rates, as well as other economic factors. -
Controversy erupts: Will some states benefit more than others?
The recently passed stimulus package will channel about $87 billion to state Medicaid programs, and predictably, controversy has erupted over which states are getting the most aid. -
Long-awaited reauthorization of SCHIP: But is it too late?
Many state Medicaid programs had to put programs on hold to provide coverage to uninsured children, as a result of an impasse when Congress and President Bush could not agree on details of reauthorization of The State Children's Health Insurance Plan. -
Virginia Medicaid aims to continue cost-containment
Cost-effectiveness and quality of care "are some of the key elements of the Virginia Medicaid program," according to Cheryl Roberts, deputy director of the state's Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS). -
Medicaid cuts nearly double ED visits by the uninsured
After the Oregon Health Plan, Oregon's Medicaid expansion program, made changes in its benefit package in March 2003, more than 50,000 beneficiaries were disenrolled as a result. -
Simple changes can benefit shift workers
Shift workers are at higher risk for injuries, accidents, and absenteeism, but simple work schedule changes can improve the health of these employees, according to a new review of 26 studies of shift workers, including autoworkers, nurses, and chemical plant employees. -
Understanding CMS Condition Codes 42, 43
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), of Baltimore, requires Condition Code 42 to be used when a hospital patient is discharged to home health services. The home health treatment plan is unrelated to the inpatient stay. -
Hospital-acquired conditions explained by CMS
Hospital providers need to be fully aware of the new steps taken by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to report and prevent hospital-acquired conditions.