State Health Watch Archives – April 1, 2004
April 1, 2004
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Feds: Medicaid is a partnership, not an exercise in gamesmanship
In his FY 2005 budget, President George Bush said the secretary of Health and Human Services will work with Congress to pass an option for states to receive Medicaid and State Childrens Health Insurance Program funds in the form of flexible allotments, presumably a reference to an idea floated last year that Medicaid become a block grant program. -
Fiscal Fitness: How States Cope - Pennsylvania’s AmeriHealth Mercy decides to look inward and cuts its Medicaid drug costs
Because drug costs are a major concern for Medicaid HMOs and state Medicaid programs, AmeriHealth Mercy created PerformRx to assist other plans to develop the capability to manage drug utilization and product and service costs. -
Health care system is failing adolescents
A recent study by the Maternal & Child Health Policy Research Center makes clear that when it comes to caring for adolescents, the health care system is not doing a very good job. -
Public health system still is not ready for terrorist attacks
More than two years after the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, and despite $1.8 appropriated by Congress to revitalize the countrys public health system, some progress has been made, but not nearly enough, according to a report prepared by Trust for Americas Health. -
Medicaid-only plans show increasing strength
With commercial health plans exiting from the Medicaid market in the last few years, state Medicaid programs are becoming more dependent on Medicaid-only plans. But are Medicaid-only plans able to provide high-quality cost-effective care and remain in business for the long-term?