Blog
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New Study Confirms that ACA Welcome Mat for Kids was Indeed Welcoming
My favorite study from our wonderful colleagues at the Urban Institute has just been released, and it underscores that the sharp reduction in the uninsured rate for children was closely linked to the ACA. The study, like others before it (including our own) documents the decline in the number of uninsured children to historic lows…
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ACA Non-Discrimination Rules: When Does Medical Management Cross the Line?
One key feature of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that has transformed access to health insurance is the prohibition on discrimination based on health status for those buying coverage on their own or through a small employer. Prior to the ACA, states had varying degrees of protection for individuals with pre-existing conditions, but the patchwork…
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Arizona No Longer an Outlier on Children’s Health Coverage
Today the Arizona legislature approved a measure to reinstate KidsCare and the Governor has indicated that he would sign it into law. An estimated 30,000 Arizona children will gain access to affordable coverage once the state reopens KidsCare (Arizona’s CHIP plan). This is a smart investment in the future of Arizona and its children. Studies…
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Texas Put on Notice as Medicaid Waiver Extended by Federal CMS for 15 Months
Earlier this week, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) sent a letter to the state of Texas extending the state’s Section 1115 Medicaid waiver for 15 months with level funding through the end of 2017. The state of Texas promptly labelled the agreement a “big win” for Texas – but was it? Texas…
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Recent Changes to the Free Care Rule Put Federal Funds Back on the Table
The so-called “Free Care Rule” prevented states from receiving federal Medicaid funds to provide any service that is ordinarily provided for free to the community at large, even if Medicaid would cover these services for its beneficiaries. For instance, if a public school nurse were to examine a student, federal funds could not be used…
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HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY: Health Milestones that All Parents and Our Nation Should Celebrate
By Liane Wong, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Just over a week ago, data released from the Urban Institute gave all parents a milestone to celebrate. Since 1997, the share of uninsured children declined by 75% and for the first time in history, 95 percent of the nation’s children have health insurance. For our…
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The ACA is Helping Moms this Mother’s Day
In the U.S., 15.7% of mothers are uninsured. That’s 5.9 million mothers or one out of every six , according to new study from the Urban Institute. We care about all parents but with Mother’s Day right around the corner, we are focusing on moms for now. In How Are Moms Faring under the Affordable…
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Covered California Raises the Bar on Reducing Health Disparities
By Cary Sanders, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, and Mike Odeh, Children Now At Covered California’s latest April Board meeting, Executive Director Peter Lee declared: “We are raising the bar not just for California but for the nation.” Mr. Lee was referring to the bold initiatives adopted by the Covered California board that they expect will…
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Major New Rule Seeks to Modernize & Improve Quality of Medicaid Managed Care
Earlier this week, CMS released the much-anticipated final rule on Medicaid and CHIP managed care. The rule marks the first update to Medicaid managed care rules in over a decade, and it comes at a time when more and more Medicaid beneficiaries are covered under managed care arrangements. Three-quarters of children, and virtually all adults…
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New Study Shows Medicaid Expansion Reduces Household Debt
Medicaid expansion has led to declines in the rate of uninsurance, improved access to care for enrollees, and financial savings for states. A new study points to an additional benefit to newly eligible Medicaid enrollees: lowering debt. Prior studies indicate that Medicaid reduces medical debt, but a new study examined the impact of Medicaid expansion…
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CMS Releases Final Managed Care Rule for Medicaid, CHIP
Many children and families rely on Medicaid or CHIP as their source of health care coverage and a growing number of them are connecting with that coverage through managed care plans. How managed care is delivered has a significant impact on the health and well-being of children and families. In fact, three-quarters of children enrolled in…
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Too Soon to Replicate Indiana’s Medicaid Waiver
By Jesse Cross-Call, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Several states are considering adopting features of the federal waiver through which Indiana has expanded Medicaid — such as setting up accounts modeled on health savings accounts for each beneficiary, delaying coverage until beneficiaries pay premiums tied to their incomes, and ending coverage for some beneficiaries…
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CHIR Expert Testifies Before U.S. House Education & Workforce Committee about Innovations in Health Care
By Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms Sabrina Corlette of the Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms joined a panel of witnesses before the Subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Education & Workforce Committee to discuss “Innovations in Health Care: Exploring Free-Market Solutions for a Healthy Workforce.” Other panelists at…
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Video Highlights of Hearing on “Flint Water Crisis: Impacts and Lessons Learned”
On Wednesday, April 13, Georgetown CCF’s Executive Director Joan Alker testified before the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on lessons emerging from the Flint water crisis. Here are the highlights of the hearing. Joan Alker explains the vital role of Medicaid in ameliorating harm in times of crisis… and how Medicaid can help meet…
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HHS Study Shows Benefits of Shopping and Subsidies, but Costs Still a Concern
By Sean Miskell As insurers selling on the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Marketplaces begin to file their 2017 rates with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), concerns over proposed increases will once again emerge. But a report released by the HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) demonstrates that behind the headlines…
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New Tools Raise Awareness about Developmental Screenings in Pennsylvania
By Joan Benso, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children In the past year, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (PPC) has collaborated with professionals from across the commonwealth to understand the state of developmental screening. PPC’s overarching organizational mission is to make Pennsylvania one of the top 10 states to be a child and to raise…
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Responding to the Flint Michigan Water Crisis: What is the Role of Medicaid?
Today I had the opportunity to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on lessons emerging from the Flint water crisis. I wish the hearing hadn’t been necessary but I hope Flint is a wake up call to reexamine our nation’s policy on lead and children’s health. I am concerned not just about…
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Testimony for Hearing on “The Flint Water Crisis: Impacts and Lessons Learned”
The following prepared remarks were delivered by Joan Alker on April 13, 2016 before the Subcommittee on Health and Subcommittee on the Environment of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for the hearing “Flint Water Crisis: Impacts and Lessons Learned.” Her views do not represent those of Georgetown University. My name is Joan Alker, and…
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Missouri’s Health Reform Assisters Triumph In Court
By Emily Curran, Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms Health reform advocates experienced a win last month, when a federal court in Missouri struck down three sections of a recently enacted state law that interfered with the ability of consumer assistance personnel to help Missourians understand their health insurance options and enroll in coverage.…
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Post ACA, 3 Communities Respond to a Shifting Health Care Landscape for Newly Insured
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has proven successful in meeting one of the law’s primary goals: to extend coverage to more Americans. Nearly 13 million people signed up for marketplace coverage in the 3rd open enrollment period, contributing to a dramatic reduction in the number of uninsured. But what has that coverage meant for helping…