The House voted 220–213 to pass the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act. It contains essential hospital priorities related to Medicaid, maternal health, and the health care workforce but also includes harmful cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital and uncompensated care pool payments.
view more »On the Hill: ‘Human Infrastructure’ Package Makes Headway
Nov. 2, 2021 ||President Joe Biden last week announced a $1.75 trillion framework for "human infrastructure" reconciliation legislation; the House subsequently released updated legislative text for its human infrastructure bill that aims to close the Medicaid coverage gap.
view more »Senate-Passed COVID-19 Relief Package Includes DSH Fix
March 9, 2021 ||The $1.9 trillion package temporarily increases Medicaid disproportionate share hospital allotments to ensure essential hospitals receive the same level of payments as they would have expected absent the pandemic. The package returns to the House for a final vote, expected as early as Tuesday.
view more »Illinois is the first state to extend Medicaid coverage to low-income residents ages 65 and older, regardless of immigration status, due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania heightened security measures to protect staff and providers against the spread of COVID-19.
view more »Medicaid Expansion on State Ballots
June 2, 2020 ||Several states, including Missouri and Oklahoma, will vote this year on whether to expand Medicaid. However, the topic of expansion will remain unaddressed in several states this year; for example, plans to include expansion on the 2020 ballot in Florida now have been pushed to 2022.
view more »State Policy Snapshot: Emergency Medicaid for COVID-19 Testing, Treatment of Undocumented Immigrants
May 21, 2020 ||This State Policy Snapshot summarizes how states are turning to emergency Medicaid authority to provide coverage of COVID-19 services for specific populations, such as individuals who would qualify for public assistance if not for their immigration status.
view more »Okla. Releases Application for Medicaid Block Grants
March 22, 2020 ||Under the proposed Section 1115 waiver, Oklahoma would accept a per-capita cap on federal funds for the Medicaid expansion population and incorporate other market-based reforms.
view more »Court Vacates Mich. Medicaid Work Requirements
March 9, 2020 ||This decision is the latest of several court cases invalidating work requirements policies in Medicaid; Utah now is the only state with these requirements in effect. It is unknown at this time if Michigan or the Department of Health and Human Services will appeal the decision.
view more »Appeals Court Strikes Down Ark. Medicaid Work Requirements
Feb. 20, 2020 ||In the unanimous decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that the Department of Health and Human Services failed to adequately assess the potential impact of work requirements on coverage under Arkansas' Section 1115 demonstration waiver.
view more »CMS Outlines Medicaid Block Grant Option for States
Feb. 3, 2020 ||CMS issued guidance outlining how states can receive a block grant or per-capita cap in exchange for additional administrative flexibility. Through a Section 1115 demonstration waiver, these new financing arrangements would apply to coverage of optional Medicaid patient populations.
view more »Urban Institute: Medicaid MAT Coverage Varies by State
Sept. 16, 2019 ||States that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act saw higher prescribing rates for medication-assisted treatment than nonexpansion states.
view more »Medicaid Policy in 2019: Eligibility
Aug. 29, 2019 ||Essential hospitals are an important resource to help patients determine their eligibility for Medicaid and other assistance programs.
view more »Advocates Push Medicaid Expansion Ballot Initiatives
Aug. 5, 2019 ||Proponents are collecting voter signatures in Florida, Missouri, and Oklahoma for 2020 ballot initiatives to expand Medicaid.
view more »The retrospective study used AHRQ Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data from 2011 to 2015 to estimate the effects of Medicaid coverage expansion on hospital utilization rates, costs, and patient illness severity.
view more »Calif. First to Expand Medicaid to Undocumented Young Adults
July 16, 2019 ||The expansion, which takes effect in 2020, applies to low-income residents ages 19 to 25, regardless of immigration status. The state estimates more than 100,000 undocumented young adults will be eligible for the expanded coverage.
view more »Medicaid Policy in 2019: Expansion
May 9, 2019 ||Decisions made at the state and federal levels regarding Medicaid expansion continue to evolve nearly a decade after passage of the Affordable Care Act.
view more »CMS Approves Medicaid Work Requirements, Spending Cap in Utah
April 8, 2019 ||Utah joins a growing list of states with approval to implement Medicaid work requirements, but it is the first state to limit enrollment to individuals below the federal poverty level and implement a spending cap.
view more »CMS Releases Guidance on Waiver Monitoring, Evaluation
March 18, 2019 ||The tools and guidance aim to help states monitor and evaluate the effects of Section 1115 waiver demonstrations, including those with work and community engagement requirements and those that combat substance use disorder.
view more »CMS Approves Medicaid Work Requirements in Ohio
March 18, 2019 ||Ohio’s waiver requires beneficiaries ages 18 to 49 who are eligible through Medicaid expansion to work or participate in other community engagement activities for at least 80 hours a month.
view more »On the Hill: Congress Reviews Trump’s Medicare, Medicaid Proposals
March 12, 2019 ||The president's fiscal year 2020 budget plan calls on Congress to significantly reform the two programs, including ending Medicaid expansion and changing Medicare uncompensated care payments.
view more »CMS Approves Medicaid Work Requirements in Arizona
Jan. 22, 2019 ||The waiver requires beneficiaries ages 19 to 49 who are eligible through Medicaid expansion to work or participate in community engagement activities for at least 80 hours a month.
view more »CMS Approves Medicaid Work Requirements in Maine, Michigan
Jan. 7, 2019 ||Maine and Michigan join five other states to receive approval for Medicaid work requirements; unlike most other states, Maine's work requirements will apply to both existing beneficiaries and those newly eligible through expansion.
view more »Post-Election Medicaid Expansion Possible in Some Red States
Nov. 17, 2018 ||Three new Democratic governors have vowed to move forward with Medicaid expansion in their states; Meanwhile, voters in Idaho, Nebraska, and Utah approved Medicaid expansion, while Montana voters rejected an initiative to extend the state's expansion past June 2019.
view more »CMS Approves Wisconsin Medicaid Work Requirements
Nov. 5, 2018 ||Wisconsin is the fifth state to receive approval to incorporate work and community engagement requirements as a condition of Medicaid eligibility.
view more »CMS Approves Virginia Medicaid Expansion
Oct. 23, 2018 ||The expansion is expected to give up to 400,000 additional Virginians access to the program; the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has not announced a decision on the state's Section 1115 waiver, which includes work requirements.
view more »CMS Approves N.H. Medicaid Work Requirements
May 14, 2018 ||New Hampshire is the fourth state to receive approval to incorporate work and community engagement requirements as a condition of Medicaid eligibility.
view more »CMS Approves Arkansas Medicaid Work Requirements
March 6, 2018 ||Under the approved waiver, Arkansas Medicaid beneficiaries ages 19 to 49 beginning June 1 must work or participate in community engagement activities for 80 hours per month to maintain their eligibility.
view more »CMS Approves Indiana Medicaid Work Requirements
Feb. 5, 2018 ||The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved Indiana's request to incorporate work requirements in their Section 1115 Medicaid expansion waiver. This is the second waiver with work requirements approved by CMS.
view more »On the Hill: Senate Considers New ACA Repeal Bill
Sept. 19, 2017 ||The bill would replace Medicaid expansion funding and private insurance subsidies with $1.2 trillion in block grants to states; the Congressional Budget Office is expected to release a score early next week.
view more »Statement on Graham-Cassidy Health Plan Proposal
Sept. 15, 2017 ||The proposal appears to significantly restrict federal health care funding through per-capita caps and block grants; shift costs to states, patients, providers, and taxpayers; and achieve the same result as earlier bills: millions left uninsured.
view more »Participants learned about the evolution of Medicaid Managed Care and how essential hospitals can succeed in the changing environment from experts at Premier Inc.
view more »Expanded Medicaid access under the Affordable Care Act might have helped patients seek treatment for behavioral health issues, which disproportionately affect low-income populations.
view more »ACA Led to Improved Care Access for Low-Income Adults
July 7, 2017 ||Researchers examined outcomes in Kentucky, Arkansas, and Texas; they found expanding access to health coverage improved care access and affordability.
view more »On the Hill: Senate Recesses Without Passing ACA Repeal
July 3, 2017 ||Negotiations continue; areas of contention include the Medicaid per-capita cap growth rate and the phase out of Medicaid expansion enhanced funding.
view more »MACPAC Releases Brief on Medicaid DSH Cuts
June 26, 2017 ||The brief projects Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment reductions under the Affordable Care Act and the House-passed American Health Care Act.
view more »On the Hill: Senate Gains Momentum on ACA Repeal
June 13, 2017 ||Senate Republican leaders aim to submit a draft bill to the Congressional Budget Office early this week and vote on the bill before the July Fourth recess.
view more »Urban Institute Details State Impact of AHCA Cuts
March 23, 2017 ||The American Health Care Act's Medicaid cuts would fall heavily on low-income states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
view more »Member Leader Testifies on ACA Repeal Impact
March 21, 2017 ||Samuel Ross, CEO of Bon Secours Baltimore Health System, testified at an event held by House Democrats on the Republican-proposed bill to repeal the ACA.
view more »Price, Verma Outline Medicaid Priorities
March 17, 2017 ||The letter affirms their desire to improve the Medicaid program and the vulnerable people it serves and to ensure the program provides value to taxpayers.
view more »The committees on Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means passed ACA repeal and replacement bills that could affect coverage and essential hospital funding.
view more »The American Health Care Act offers some relief for the safety net, but the association remains deeply concerned about substantial changes to Medicaid.
view more »Attendees heard about the current status of health care legislation, including efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
view more »How will the election impact the future of health care policy?
view more »KFF Brief Highlights Medicaid Expansion Benefits
June 21, 2016 ||A review of 61 studies found that expansion under the ACA has improved health coverage, access to care, and economic outcomes.
view more »Sarah Mutinsky will be covering the rules and challenges of financing non-federal Medicaid payments.
view more »On the Hill: Appropriations Debate, Tax Extenders, Medicare DSH
Dec. 9, 2015 ||Congress debates omnibus appropriations measure, considers another stop-gap funding bill, as deadline for government shutdown looms.
view more »Senate plans to expand House reconciliation bill with full ACA repeal; Rep. Brady named Ways and Means chair; Republicans establish Medicaid task force.
view more »Partnership for Medicaid Discusses the Future on Capitol Hill
Sept. 29, 2015 ||The briefing included a panel of four experts serving different Medicaid populations who spoke about continuing to strengthen the program and the role of Medicaid expansion in increasing access to care.
view more »Health Affairs Details Medicaid’s Commitment to Access and Quality
July 31, 2015 ||Articles focus on innovative waivers that support states in transforming delivery systems to improve access and quality of care. Another focus is Medicaid coverage in areas of crucial need, such as mental health care.
view more »Health Affairs Explores Financial and Political Aspects of Medicaid
July 30, 2015 ||Articles cover the ACA's Medicaid expansion, Medicaid shortfalls and community benefit funds, and the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions on Medicaid.
view more »CMS Will Fast-Track Certain Section 1115 Waiver Renewals
July 29, 2015 ||Proposed renewals must be for demonstrations that are working effectively and have no major or complex policy changes. Certain waivers that use the enhanced FMAP are ineligible.
view more »MetroHealth Study Shows Value of Medicaid Coverage
July 8, 2015 ||Research shows how Medicaid coverage improves health and health care outcomes, and saves money.
view more »CBO: ACA Repeal Would Cost 24 Million Americans Health Insurance
June 24, 2015 ||CBO also found that if a full ACA repeal took effect on Jan. 1, 2016, the federal deficit would increase by $137 billion between 2016 and 2025.
view more »Learn more about how states are negotiating alternative Medicaid expansions.
view more »America's Essential Hospitals is conducting this member survey to capture the impact of the ACA coverage expansion on essential hospitals.
view more »MACPAC Report to Congress Examines CHIP, Premium Assistance Waivers
March 17, 2015 ||Report includes potential impact if CHIP was to expire, Section 1115 waivers used to expand Medicaid coverage, and other aspects of Medicaid payment policy.
view more »Health Insurance Marketplaces a Primary Focus for HHS
March 3, 2015 ||Specifically, HHS will evaluate financial assistance programs, Medicaid expansion, pioneer ACOs, and marketplace payment systems.
view more »Association to Survey Members on Uncompensated Care
Nov. 12, 2014 ||The survey aims to capture the impact of ACA coverage expansion and add to association advocacy efforts with timely information on members' uncompensated care.
view more »Uncompensated Care Report Encouraging, but Challenges Remain
Sept. 25, 2014 ||White House report a positive sign, but essential hospitals continue to face significant uncompensated care burden and looming cuts to disproportionate share hospitals payments
view more »Budget Neutrality Concerns for Arkansas Expansion Waiver
Sept. 9, 2014 ||GAO found that HHS did not ensure budget neutrality when approving Arkansas' Medicaid expansion waiver. Issues include lack of data to corroborate state assumptions and state flexibility to expand spending limits.
view more »Pennsylvania Expands Medicaid through Healthy PA
Sept. 3, 2014 ||Pennsylvania will expand Medicaid through a private option, requiring some enrollees to pay premiums.
view more »Medicaid Expansion and the Designated Hitter Rule – A Case of Unilateral Disarmament
Aug. 28, 2014 ||It is difficult to find creative ways to describe the thoughtlessness of states’ decisions to opt out of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Here is my latest involving a stats website and baseball.
view more »Taking Action Online and Offline for Medicaid
July 24, 2014 ||Action, engagement, and the human story of often technical or financial issues is key to driving education and awareness - learn how Medicaid expansion became personal.
view more »Association joins lawmakers in call for non-expansion states to 'do the right thing now' and support vulnerable patients and their hospitals.
view more »Study Shows: Slow Growth in Medicaid Spending during Great Recession
July 11, 2014 ||A recent study published by the Kaiser Family Foundation analyzed Medicaid spending growth during the Great Recession. Spending per enrollee grew slower than medical care inflation, national health expenditures per capita, and growth in private health insurance per enrollee.
view more »CMCS Releases Medicaid, CHIP Enrollment Fact Sheets
July 8, 2014 ||The fact sheets assist hospitals and other organizations in community outreach and enrollment efforts. They cover the basics of Medicaid and CHIP benefits, enrollment eligibility, and enrollment processes.
view more »Report Confirms Benefits of Medicaid Expansion
July 8, 2014 ||White House Council of Economic Advisers released a report describing opportunities missed by states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
view more »Research: Medicaid Expansion Improves Health
July 2, 2014 ||White House report confirms the numerous benefits of Medicaid expansion and demonstrates that state decisions not to expand have far-reaching consequences for our nation's health and economy. Essential hospitals have driven enrollment and need continued financial support to serve their communities.
view more »Study: ACA Savings Don’t Offset DSH Cuts
June 10, 2014 ||A recent study found that planned reductions in Medicaid DSH payments and ongoing inflation in health care costs will cause debilitating gaps in funding for essential hospitals. Expected system costs to states that do not expand Medicaid will be exacerbated by continued uncompensated care costs and no additional Medicaid funds to offset them.
view more »Medicaid Expansion: Lessons Learned from Expansion States
May 20, 2014 ||Government relations staff will share their experiences with Medicaid expansion, including challenges and best practices
view more »CBO Estimates Lower Cost to States Expanding Medicaid
April 29, 2014 ||CBO said states will incur $46 billion in Medicaid expansion costs from 2015-2024. This is about one-third less than CBO's February prediction that Medicaid expansion would cost states $70 billion.
view more »Waivers Catalyze Integration and Clinical Improvement
April 14, 2014 ||Learn how delivery system transformation initiatives helped BMC improve quality
view more »Resources for Implementing Hospital Presumptive Eligibility
March 25, 2014 ||CMS has developed several resources to help hospitals implement presumptive eligibility, including model agreements between the state and hospitals, a model training template for states, a model application for hospitals, and FAQs.
view more »CMS Releases Basic Health Plan Final Rule
March 18, 2014 ||The final rule establishes procedures for enrollment and certification. CMS also released its final methodology for determining federal payments to states establishing a BHP program in 2015.
view more »Medicaid Expansion: Effective Advocacy Strategies
March 5, 2014 ||Government relations experts from essential hospitals shared strategies they have used to move their state toward Medicaid expansion
view more »DSRIP Waiver Implementation: One Hospital’s Experience
Feb. 4, 2014 ||Learn about Santa Clara Valley Medical Center's experience with the DSRIP
view more »GOP Senators Release ACA Repeal and Replace Plan
Jan. 31, 2014 ||The Patient Choice, Affordability, Responsibility, and Empowerment (CARE) Act would repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with market-based reforms. The plan would keep some ACA provisions. The proposal would end the individual mandate and offer tax credits for individuals unable to afford coverage.
view more »Statement on House Action to Reduce, Delay Medicaid DSH Cuts
Dec. 12, 2013 ||Calls action "important step toward protecting access to vital health care and community services for millions"
view more »States expanding their Medicaid programs saw a 15.5 percent increase in applications
view more »More Than 5 Million People Will Fall Into Coverage Gap, According to Kaiser Analysis
Oct. 22, 2013 ||Providers that fill a safety net role will be stretched thin in states that do not expand Medicaid
view more »Hospitals in Non-Expansion States Will Face 340B Challenges
Oct. 22, 2013 ||Analysis finds program is likely to grow in states expanding their Medicaid program
view more »Estimates 5.2 million uninsured fall into coverage gap
view more »On the Hill: Vote On Subsidy Verification, CBO Quantifies Individual Mandate Delay
Sept. 10, 2013 ||Bill would halt subsidies until applicant coverage requirements, household income can be verified
view more »Statement on Medicaid Expansion Report
Aug. 20, 2013 ||Says Bloomberg Government report underscores "uncertain and deeply troubling future for vulnerable patients"
view more »America’s Essential Hospitals to Work with CMS on Exchange- and Medicaid-related Education
Aug. 13, 2013 ||Effort will seek to increase understanding of low-income and minority populations’ experiences with exchanges
view more »Project Launched to Build Safety Net Capacity, Collaboration
July 30, 2013 ||Project to help essential providers prepare for ACA coverage expansion
view more »Analysis Shows Impact of Opting Out of Medicaid Expansion
July 23, 2013 ||Analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured found that 6.4 million people will miss out on insurance coverage if the 21 states not intending to expand their Medicaid program and the six undecided states do not implement the Medicaid expansion.
view more »CCIIO Releases Final Rule on Exchange Functions
July 2, 2013 ||Regulation finalizes provisions on how eligibility will be determined and hardship exemption certificates granted
view more »Study: 3.6 Million Fewer Covered in Non-Expansion States
June 13, 2013 ||States that opt out could lose $8.4 billion in federal funding, Health Affairs study finds
view more »NAPH statement on Obama administration fiscal 2014 budget proposal
April 10, 2013 ||Notes appreciation of one-year DSH cut delay, but says provision comes at expense of funding later
view more »CMS Issues Rule on Matching Rate for Medicaid Expansion
April 4, 2013 ||Agency also releases FAQ on state-supplied premium assistance option
view more »Florida Legislature Rejects Medicaid Expansion
March 14, 2013 ||Lawmakers turn back governor's plan to accept expansion for three years
view more »CMS Releases Q&A Document for ACA Implementation
Feb. 13, 2013 ||Document addresses questions about federal medical assistance percentages
view more »Association Engages with AcademyHealth at Policy Conference
Feb. 8, 2013 ||President and CEO Bruce Siegel moderated sessions on Medicaid, delivery innovations
view more »America’s Essential Hospitals Applauds President’s Commitment to Medicaid in 2014 Budget
Feb. 1, 2013 ||Administration official announced that the president would not include Medicaid cuts in 2014 budget
view more »NAPH statement on CMS Medicaid Expansion Guidance
Dec. 10, 2012 ||Says agency guidance follows "letter and spirit of the law" and takes step toward significantly reducing uninsured
view more »NAPH Launches Campaign to Preserve Medicaid Funding
Dec. 4, 2012 ||Effort includes short videos, banner ads, and related website of research, position papers, and other resources
view more »Analysis show impact of Supreme Court decision on hospitals and vulnerable patients
view more »Estimates show up to 10 million more people will remain uninsured than assumed when ACA passed
view more »NAPH Deeply Concerned by Decisions to Reject Medicaid Expansion
July 12, 2012 ||Association says s many as 13.8 million are at risk of going uninsured in non-expansion states
view more »NAPH Pleased Court Upholds Individual Mandate, Concerned by Decision’s Potential Limits on Medicaid Expansion
June 28, 2012 ||Decision could "could strand millions of our most disadvantaged people without access to basic health care coverage"
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