Resources
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Insight from CBPP on Controversial Amendment to CR
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released an analysis of the impact of an amendment to the continuing resolution that would bar the use of funds to implement any aspect of the Affordable Care Act. The amendment is being offered by Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT) to the continuing resolution now on the House floor.…
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CT Governor Helps Kids by Removing Barrier to CHIP Enrollment
By Sharon Langer, Connecticut Voices for Children Although Connecticut – like most states – is facing unprecedented fiscal challenges, and like other northeast neighboring states, challenging wintry conditions, there is some good health care news for children and families coming from the “State of Steady Habits”. Governor Dannel P. Malloy recently announced that Connecticut will implement presumptive eligibility…
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Arizona Waiver Situation Not Applicable to Other States
Governors from states considering balancing their budgets on the backs of their most vulnerable residents should not read too much into Secretary Sebelius’ letter to Governor Jan Brewer this week. HHS Secretary Sebelius did not waive the stability protection (aka “maintenance of effort”) provisions of the Affordable Care Act as Governor Brewer had requested. Secretary…
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Update on Efforts to Slow Implementation of Affordable Care Act
In early January the House of Representatives passed, with much fanfare, H.R. 2, a bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Senate Republicans attempted to attach this measure to an airport construction bill but that effort was soundly defeated and it is unlikely that H.R. 2 will be passed by the…
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Early Innovators Awarded HHS Health Exchange IT Grants
Drumroll, please! For us techies (or techie-wanna-bes), the waiting is over. And the envelope says…Kansas, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma*, Oregon, Wisconsin and a multi-state consortia consisting of the New England states (sans New Hampshire) are the winners. The awards ranged from a low of $6.3 million for Maryland to a high of $54.6 million for…
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Just Say No to Arizona’s Waiver Request
Thanks to the more than thirty national organizations that joined CCF in expressing our opposition to Arizona’s request to waive the maintenance of effort provisions that are currently preserving stability in states’ Medicaid programs. Groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Easter Seals, Families USA, the National Association…
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Medicaid and CHIP Stability Protections: Consequences of Repeal
In the past few years, Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) coverage for low-income children and families facing job loss, seniors in need of health and long-term care services, and people with disabilities has held remarkably steady. This is because the Recovery Act and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have ensured that states do…
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Three Keys to Setting Up Strong Health Insurance Exchanges
By Joe Touschner Even as the media is focusing on the high-profile debate over court challenges to the Affordable Care Act and efforts to repeal and defund it in the House of Representatives, many states continue to move steadily forward with implementation. California was a leader in enacting legislation to create its exchange last year,…
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MEDICAID MATTERS: Arizona Section 1115 Waiver Request Sets a New Low
I recently pulled out my copy of the Social Security Act to reread Section 1115 which provides the Secretary of Health and Human Services with the authority to permit waivers of certain rules of the Medicaid program. These projects were conceived of by Congressional drafters as “demonstration projects” or “experimental pilots” which “in the judgment…
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MEDICAID MATTERS
Did you know that more than 35 million children received their health coverage through Medicaid last year? And Medicaid and CHIP have been the reason for the amazing news that children’s rate of uninsurance has actually gone down to historically low levels at a time when the country is in serious economic straits. Add to…
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Getting To the Finish Line: Investments in State-Based Advocacy Show Real Returns in Covering Uninsured Children
By Liane Wong and Eugene Lewit, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Even though last week seemed like it was all about the run-up to the Super Bowl, many of us in the nation had another cause to celebrate. February 4, 2011 was the second anniversary of the reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program…
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New Fact Sheet Examines the Consequences of Repealing the Medicaid and CHIP Stability Protections
By Martha Heberlein In the past few years, Medicaid and CHIP coverage has held remarkably steady despite the weak economy and significant state budget problems. As a result, it has meant that public programs have been able to offer coverage to low-income children and families facing job loss, help to seniors in need of long-term…
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CHIPRA’s 2nd Birthday: Cake, Ice Cream & Outreach Grants
Ask anyone to share their childhood memories and inevitably, birthday parties will be among their favorite stories. So it’s fitting that we celebrate similar milestones when it comes to children’s health coverage as we are doing on this second anniversary of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA). Cake and ice cream are yummy,…
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A Better Way – Secretary Sebelius Offers Alternatives to Canceling Coverage
By Jocelyn Guyer As we blogged a few weeks ago, the nation’s Republican governors have sent a letter to Congress asking for the stability protections included in the Affordable Care Act to be revoked. The debate already has turned ugly, with these Governors asserting that the stability protections are “unconscionable” and leave them with no choice…
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Steeler Nation Wins! (Super Blog-Off)
So what if the “Lombardi” is going home to Green Bay, Steeler Nation fans brought home the first Say Ahhh! Super Blog-Off trophy (naming rights still up for grabs). As loyal Say Ahhher’s know, we sponsored a “friendly” competition between Packer Backers and the Steeler Nation to see which group displayed more enthusiasm for efforts…
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Packer SuperBlogger Invokes Lombardi to Show Wisconsin is Leading the Charge for Children’s Health
(In honor of the Super Bowl, Say Ahhh! is hosting a Super Blog-Off to determine whether the Steeler Nation or Packer Backers are doing a better job of Connecting Kids to Coverage. Please read both blogs and vote for your favorite by submitting a comment. Comments must be submitted by kick-off Sunday night. See previous blog for…
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Steeler SuperBlogger: ‘No Baby Should Leave the Hospital Without an Insurance Card or a Terrible Towel’
(In honor of the Super Bowl, Say Ahhh! is hosting a Super Blog-Off to determine whether the Steeler Nation or Packer fans are doing a better job of Connecting Kids to Coverage. Please read both blogs and vote for your favorite by submitting a comment. Comments must be submitted by kick-off Sunday night. See previous…
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Super Blog-Off: Green Bay Faces Off Against Pittsburgh to Connect Kids to Coverage
So maybe I’m taking HHS Secretary Sebelius’ “Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge” a little too far but if millions of Americans are going to drop everything to watch the Super Bowl, why can’t we channel some of that energy into something that will help uninsured children “Get Covered and Get in the Game”. Say Ahhh!…
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Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Inspires Innovation
By Liz Arjun Two years ago today, President Obama signed into law the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act to help families facing tough times find affordable health coverage for their children. Thanks to the strong resolve of national and state leaders, many of our children have been offered shelter during these turbulent economic times.…
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If We’re Going to Use Numbers, Can They At Least Be the Right Ones?
By Martha Heberlein While there have been many arguments related to the stability protections (aka the maintenance-of-effort requirements) that irk me due a skewing of the issues (such as the lack of “flexibility” states have in their Medicaid programs), one in particular has been driving me crazy. We at CCF have long tried to get…