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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wisconsin is the fifth state to receive approval to incorporate work and community engagement requirements as a condition of Medicaid eligibility.

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.

New Hampshire is the fourth state to receive approval to incorporate work and community engagement requirements as a condition of Medicaid eligibility.

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.

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.

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.

Expanded Medicaid access under the Affordable Care Act might have helped patients seek treatment for behavioral health issues, which disproportionately affect low-income populations.

Negotiations continue; areas of contention include the Medicaid per-capita cap growth rate and the phase out of Medicaid expansion enhanced funding.

The brief projects Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment reductions under the Affordable Care Act and the House-passed American Health Care Act.

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.

The American Health Care Act's Medicaid cuts would fall heavily on low-income states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

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.

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.

The committees on Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means passed ACA repeal and replacement bills that could affect coverage and essential hospital funding.

The American Health Care Act offers some relief for the safety net, but the association remains deeply concerned about substantial changes to Medicaid.

A review of 61 studies found that expansion under the ACA has improved health coverage, access to care, and economic outcomes.

Congress debates omnibus appropriations measure, considers another stop-gap funding bill, as deadline for government shutdown looms.

Senate plans to expand House reconciliation bill with full ACA repeal; Rep. Brady named Ways and Means chair; Republicans establish Medicaid task force.

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.

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.

Research shows how Medicaid coverage improves health and health care outcomes, and saves money.

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.

America's Essential Hospitals is conducting this member survey to capture the impact of the ACA coverage expansion on essential hospitals.

Report includes potential impact if CHIP was to expire, Section 1115 waivers used to expand Medicaid coverage, and other aspects of Medicaid payment policy.

Specifically, HHS will evaluate financial assistance programs, Medicaid expansion, pioneer ACOs, and marketplace payment systems.

The survey aims to capture the impact of ACA coverage expansion and add to association advocacy efforts with timely information on members' uncompensated care.

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.

Pennsylvania will expand Medicaid through a private option, requiring some enrollees to pay premiums.

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.

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.

White House Council of Economic Advisers released a report describing opportunities missed by states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

States expanding their Medicaid programs saw a 15.5 percent increase in applications

Providers that fill a safety net role will be stretched thin in states that do not expand Medicaid

Analysis finds program is likely to grow in states expanding their Medicaid program

Estimates 5.2 million uninsured fall into coverage gap

Bill would halt subsidies until applicant coverage requirements, household income can be verified

Effort will seek to increase understanding of low-income and minority populations’ experiences with exchanges

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.

Regulation finalizes provisions on how eligibility will be determined and hardship exemption certificates granted

States that opt out could lose $8.4 billion in federal funding, Health Affairs study finds

Agency also releases FAQ on state-supplied premium assistance option

Lawmakers turn back governor's plan to accept expansion for three years

Document addresses questions about federal medical assistance percentages

President and CEO Bruce Siegel moderated sessions on Medicaid, delivery innovations

Administration official announced that the president would not include Medicaid cuts in 2014 budget