State Activity
(12/7/11)
New Reports Find Florida’s Medicaid Waiver Threatens Children’s Coverage
Georgetown researchers release two new briefs that investigate changes to Florida’s Medicaid Program. The work is supported by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and the Winter Park Health Foundation.• Brief 1: Looking Ahead to 2012, What Changes Are In Store for Florida's Medicaid Program? • Brief 2: Proposed Medicaid Premiums Challenge Coverage for Florida’s Children and Parents • Press Release
(12/5/11)
CCF & Urban Institute Release Report on Projected Impact of Affordable Care Act on Children and Families
An estimated 3.2 million children could gain health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act, according to a joint report by the Urban Institute and CCF appearing today in the journal Health Affairs. Funded through The Atlantic Philanthropies’ KidsWell initiative, the new analysis provides the first in depth estimates of the expected impact of the ACA on the nation’s children.• Improving Coverage for Children Under Health Reform Will Require Maintaining Current Eligibility Standards in Medicaid and CHIP • Blog: Health Reform Could Cut the Uninsured Rate for Children by Another 40% • Press Release
(11/29/11)
Despite Bad Economy, More Children Have Health Insurance
The number of children in poverty has increased significantly, yet the
number of uninsured children decreased nationally from 6.9 million in
2008 to 5.9 million in 2010. CCF’s latest brief finds that 34 states saw
a statistically significant decrease in the rate of uninsured children
during the same time period. A state-by-state analysis shows Florida had
the largest gains in coverage and Minnesota lost the most ground.
• Despite Economic Challenges, Progress Continues: Children’s Health Insurance Coverage in the United States from 2008-2010 • Press release • Press Coverage
(11/21/11)
CCF Hosts Blog Carnival
To highlight the importance of connecting uninsured kids with affordable
health care coverage, Moms Rising and Georgetown University's Center
for Children and Families Say Ahhh! hosted a blog carnival. Visit the
blog carnival to see what your friends and colleagues have to say about
outreach, enrollment and retention strategies.• Blog: Moms Rising and CCF Host Blog Carnival to Connect Kids to Coverage
(11/15/11)
Implementing Health Reform for Millenials: What Can States Do?
The Young Invincibles recently released a state guide with recommendations on how to best implement provisions of health care reform for young adults.• Blog: Implementing the Affordable Care Act for Millennials: What Can States Do?
(10/31/11)
CCF Submits Comments on Proposed Eligibility Rules
CCF submitted comments on three proposed rules relating to the
eligibility and enrollment of individuals into health coverage under the
ACA.• Combined comments on Medicaid and CHIP eligibility and eligibility determinations for Exchange participation • Comments on health insurance premium tax credits enacted by the ACA • Guidance and Regulations
(10/26/11)
New CCF Memo on Proposed ACA Rules
The latest CCF memo looks at the implications for children and families of the three proposed rules relating to the
eligibility and enrollment of individuals into health coverage under the
Affordable Care Act.• Memo: Major Implications for Children and Families of the Proposed Affordable Care Act Rules on Eligibility and Enrollment Systems
(9/22/11)
State Level Census Data Released
The Census Bureau released estimates for the 2010 American Community
Survey (ACS), which provides detailed state-level data, including health
insurance coverage.• Blog: State Level Data Now Available on a Census Website Near You
(9/20/11)
President’s Deficit Reduction Plan Includes Blended Match Rate Proposal
This week, President Obama announced his deficit reduction plan and
warned Congress that he would not support a "one-sided deal that hurts
the folks that are the most vulnerable.” The plan calls for a balanced
approach but does include cuts in health care spending - including a
blended-match rate for Medicaid. Joan Alker takes a look at the plan on
Say Ahhh!. • Blog: President Obama Unveils Deficit Reduction Plan
(9/19/11)
CCF Sends Comments to HHS on Exchange Reg
Georgetown CCF has drafted a set of comments to HHS Secretary Kathleen
Sebelius asking that several essential steps be taken to strengthen the
regulation to ensure that children, youth, and their parents receive the
care they need when families purchase insurance through the exchanges. • Blog: Common Sense Standards Would Help Exchanges Be Consumer Friendly
(9/13/11)
New Census Data Released
The release of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Income, Poverty and Health
Insurance Coverage in the United States (2010) report revealed a
disturbing portrait of the economic circumstances for America's children
and families. It also revealed the important role Medicaid and
Children's Health Insurance Programs have played in protecting children
during difficult times and that we can come together and effectively
address the challenges our children face if we choose to.• CCF Statement • Blog: Rising Health Care Costs, Rising Underinsurance • View the full report
(8/30/11)
States of Innovation Blog Series Visits Dr. Brenner in Camden
The States of Innovation joint blog series by Community Catalyst and CCF
takes a deeper look at the work of Dr. Jeffrey Brenner and his
colleagues in Camden, New Jersey. They have shown that by providing more
primary care and better-coordinated care, we can drive down costs and
create better outcomes for patients. The key is offering the right
incentives to providers so they can work as a team to coordinate care
for the patient.• Blog: A Team Approach to Care
(8/22/11)
Efforts to Connect Kids with Coverage Continue
CMS released its second round of $40 million in grants for Medicaid and
CHIP outreach, enrollment and retention activities. HHS Secretary
Kathleen Sebelius and Education Secretary Arne Duncan also sent a joint
letter encouraging Governors to boost enrollment through back-to-school
and ongoing school-based outreach activities in their states. Tricia
Brooks covers these efforts on Say Ahhh!.• Blog: Outreach Push Continues to Cover Eligible Children in Medicaid and CHIP
(8/18/11)
New CCF Report Investigates Aligning Coverage for Children and Parents in Medicaid
CCF’s newest report, co-authored with the National Women’s Law Center,
looks into current state efforts to align and simplify coverage for
children and parents in Medicaid and how the ACA moves states toward a
more coordinated system of family-based coverage.• Fulfilling the Promise of 2014: Aligning and Simplifying Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment for Children and Parents • Blog: ACA Propels States to Adopt Best Practices in Simplification and Alignment
(8/3/11)
CCF and Others Submit Letter to CMS on Utah Waiver
A new letter submitted to CMS by CCF and 17 other organizations asks
the agency to reject aspects of Utah's demonstration waiver proposal
that threaten to reduce children's coverage. Utah's waiver seeks to
waive Medicaid's EPSDT requirement and cost-sharing protections.• Letter Submitted to CMS • Press Release: National Groups Urge the Obama Administration to Reject Utah Request to Cut Health Coverage for Children While Dramatically Increasing Costs to Families • Press Coverage
(7/20/11)
Number of Uninsured Kids Drops to Dramatically in Oregon
The number of uninsured children has dropped dramatically in less than two years - from 11.3% to 5.6% - thanks to the affordable, quality health insurance provided by the Oregon Healthy Kids initiative. This puts Oregon on the leading edge of efforts to connect kids with coverage and shows how a little forward thinking can create better outcomes for children.• Blog: Some Good News in a Tough Year: Oregon's Child Un-Insurance Rate Cut in Half
(7/14/11)
New CCF Report Analyzes the Role of Medicaid for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
There is, perhaps, no group with more at stake in the current budget debates than children and youth with special health care needs. CCF’s newest report includes research and family interviews that underscore the vital role of Medicaid in the lives of these children.• Medicaid and its Role for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN): A Family Perspective • Press Release: Children with Special Health Care Needs Have Much at Stake in Budget Talks • Blog: Children in the Dawn and Shadows of Life Should be a Top Priority in Budget Talks • Press Coverage
(6/29/11)
Saving Money, Saving Lives: Maryland Paves the Way on Payment Reform
By improving how Medicaid and other health insurers reimburse hospitals, Maryland dramatically lowered its rates of costly, potentially avoidable events (PAEs) such as hospital-acquired infections. The Maryland pay for performance initiative is the focus of the first in our “States of Innovation” blog series produced in partnership with Community Catalyst.• Blog: Saving Money, Saving Lives: Maryland Paves the Way on Payment Reform
(6/14/11)
Exchange Implementation Work Moving Forward in Many States
While the national media has reported that states are moving "gingerly"
to implement the Affordable Care Act, in fact there's been a great deal
of activity of late, especially around exchanges. No fewer than 16
state legislatures have acted favorably on measures that contribute to
exchange implementation. • Blog: Exchange Implementation Work Underway Across the Country
(6/8/11)
CCF Memo Looks at Effect of Proposed Spending Caps on Children's Health Coverage
CCF's newest memo reviews the proposed budget plans to address the
federal deficit by capping spending and explains how they would
devastate the successful steps the nation has taken to provide quality,
affordable health coverage to children.• Proposed Federal Spending Caps Threaten Successful Efforts on Children’s Health • Blog: Capping Federal Spending Imperils Success on Kids Health
(6/2/11)
New Report Analyzes Why CHIP is Not a Model for a Medicaid Block Grant
CCF’s newest issue brief reviews the role of Medicaid and CHIP in the
health care system, outlines the differences in their financing
structures, and discusses the reasons it is not appropriate to use
CHIP’s experience as a guide to what will happen if federal Medicaid
funding is capped or turned into a block grant.• CHIP: Not a Model for a Medicaid Block Grant • Blog: Medicaid is the MVP of Children's Health • Threats to Medicaid
(5/23/11)
New Report Investigates Effect of Premiums on Wisconsin Families
CCF’s newest publication looks at the impact of premiums on families in
Wisconsin’s Medicaid program, BadgerCare Plus, as the state considers
whether to increase them. CCF researchers examine the effect on
participation in the program if premiums were increased or added for
families between 100 and 200% of the FPL in BadgerCare Plus at 3% and
4% of family income. Such an increase will lead to sharp declines in
children and families receiving coverage, adverse selection and
possibly increases in the use of the emergency room for routine care.• The Impact of Premiums on Families in BadgerCare Plus
(5/23/11)
Utah Improves Service and Cuts Costs with E-Communications
In these days of tight budgets, states are looking for every single
penny they can save. Utah is saving more than a few - 52¢ to be exact -
every time they send an electronic notice to someone enrolled in
Medicaid. CCF’s Tricia Brooks explains this win-win strategy that saves
money and improves customer service on Say Ahhh!.• Blog: Utah Improves Timeliness and Reduces Cost with E-Communications
5/18/11)
Arkansas Acts to Keep Child-only Plans Available
Arkansas recently joined a number of other states in adjusting its
insurance rules to help implement an important provision of the
Affordable Care Act. The ACA prevents insurers from excluding children
with pre-existing conditions, but in many states insurers responded by
ceasing to offer these policies at all. Arkansas passed a law to
require insurers who do business in the state to offer child-only plans
during an open enrollment period that will begin in October. Combining
the ACA protection with effective state regulation will allow families
who need this type of coverage for their kids to get covered.• Blog: Arkansas Lawmakers Ensure Kids Keep Coverage as Private Plans Leave the State
(5/17/11)
Rhode Island Waiver - National Model or Sweet Heart Deal?
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health passed H.R. 1683,
a bill that would repeal the Medicaid/CHIP stability protections. More
than 150 national groups including AARP, religious organizations,
pediatricians, nurses and public hospitals wrote to the committee to
express their opposition to the bill.• Blog: Rhode Island Waiver - Model or Sweetheart Deal?
(5/12/11)
House Panel Votes to Repeal Medicaid/CHIP Stability Protections
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health passed H.R. 1683,
a bill that would repeal the Medicaid/CHIP stability protections. More
than 150 national groups including AARP, religious organizations,
pediatricians, nurses and public hospitals wrote to the committee to
express their opposition to the bill.• Blog: CBO Says: Half of States Likely to Eliminate CHIP if MoE is Repealed
• Blog: Health Subcommittee Passes Repeal of Medicaid/CHIP Stability Protections (MoE)
• Medicaid Threats
(5/9/11)
New CCF Issue Brief on Presumptive Eligibility
CCF's latest issue brief on presumptive eligibility explores how the Affordable Care Act extends the policy to adults in Medicaid and gives hospitals the prerogative to make presumptive eligibility decisions regardless of whether the state otherwise has adopted the option. Tricia Brooks describes how states can use the lessons learned in implementing presumptive eligibility for pregnant women and children in readying their systems and processes in advance of 2014.
• Publication: Presumptive Eligibility: Providing Access to Health Care Without Delay and Connecting Children to Coverage
• Blog: Presumptive Eligibility Connects Kids (and Others) to Coverage
(4/26/11)
Advocates Should Take a Closer Look at ACOs
Accountable care organizations are groups of health care providers that
work together to coordinate the care patients receive with the goals of
improving care quality while reducing cost and strengthening patients'
health. CCF’s Joe Touschner explains why children’s health advocates
should take a closer look at ACOs.• Blog: Alphabet Soup: ACOs under ACA
(4/21/11)
CMS Continues to Invest in Innovation and State Flexibility
Fifteen states across the country have been selected to design new ways
to meet the often complex and costly medical needs of the nation’s
lowest-income and chronically ill citizens. CMS also issued a proposed
rule to make it easier for states to provide home and community-based
services for persons covered by Medicaid. Tricia Brooks covers both
topics on Say Ahhh!.• Blog: CMS Continues to Invest in and Support Innovation and State Flexibility in Medicaid
(4/20/11)
Kansas Eliminates Backlog of Applications
Kansas Healthwave (the state’s Medicaid and CHIP program) had a backlog
of 30,000 applicants in March. The state swiftly eliminated the
backlog by borrowing good ideas from other states such as an expedited
renewal process though passive renewals for children, new pre-populated
renewal form for adults, and a simplified internal approval process for
first-time applications. Kansas also used its CHIPRA bonus to hire
temporary workers to speed up processing according to Suzanne Wikle on
Say Ahhh!.• Blog: Kansas Eliminates Backlog with Commonsense Solutions to Improve Efficiency
(4/12/11)
Tapping Medicaid Performance Bonus Funds
The FY2011 budget agreement includes a provision to cut $3.5 billion
that had been set aside for “performance bonuses” to reward states for
effectively connecting kids with coverage. CCF’s Jocelyn Guyer
reassures those striving to bring home a bonus that there is enough
money left to cover all eligible states and encourages them to keep
going full steam ahead. • Blog: Tapping Medicaid Performance Funds - No Need to Worry
(4/11/11)
CMS Issues Guidance on State Employee CHIP Eligibility
For years federal funding was not available to states to enroll
eligible children of state employees in the Children's Health Insurance
Program (CHIP). It was assumed that state employees had access to
affordable, comprehensive insurance but, over time, that myth has been
dispelled. CMS issued guidance to states interested in pursuing this
option made available to them through the Affordable Care Act. • Blog: Guidance Issued on CHIP Eligibility for Children of State Employees
(4/5/11)
Updated Research on Medicaid Reform in Florida
Joan Alker and Jack Hoadley, of the Georgetown Health Policy Institute
(HPI), released their latest updates on Florida’s experience with
Medicaid Reform. These two publications add to the ongoing HPI project
commissioned by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund to research Florida’s
Medicaid program. The first publication looks at the inconclusive
results since Florida began its pilot Medicaid program in 2006 and the
second one looks at the impact of health reform on the state.• As Legislators Wrestle to Define Next Generation of Florida Medicaid, Benefits of Reform Effort Are Far From Clear • Understanding Florida Medicaid Today And the Impact of Federal Health Care Reform • Blog: A Closer Look at Florida's Medicaid Program
(4/5/11)
CHIPRA Performance Bonuses are “Game Changer”
CHIPRA performance bonuses have proved to be a “game changer” for
children’s health coverage, according to Jon Gould of the Children’s
Health Alliance. He explains how the performance bonus has helped
protect gains made in children’s coverage in Washington state. • Blog: Using CHIPRA Bonus Payments in Advocacy
See State Activity Archives