THE ROLE OF WAIVERS IN A NEW HEALTH REFORM WORLD (PART 1)

One of the many questions I have asked myself since passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is what the role of Section 1115  waivers will be come 2014 when the major provisions of PPACA are implemented. In the past, Section 1115 waivers have sometimes been used to expand coverage to groups previously […]

Rhode Island’s Medicaid Waiver: A Bad Deal for the State

In August 2008, Rhode Island applied for federal permission to radically transform its Medicaid program. Rhode Island asked for a fixed amount of federal funds each year along with permission to bypass longstanding federal standards protecting Medicaid beneficiaries. However, the terms and conditions of the waiver fail to take into account the impact of the […]

Waving Cautionary Flags: Initial Reactions from Doctors and Patients to Florida’s Medicaid Changes

This issue brief explores the initial reactions and experiences of Medicaid beneficiaries and doctors participating in Florida’s Medicaid reform program that began enrollment in two pilot counties in September 2006. It reports that provider participation is declining and that the reform program has made Medicaid more complex. It also highlights that children are the largest […]