State Health Watch Archives – January 1, 2011
January 1, 2011
View Issues
-
Reform may be a good deal, not a fiscal disaster, for Medicaid programs
Is it a foregone conclusion that for many states, the expansion of Medicaid in 2014 will be next to impossible, fiscally speaking? In fact, some analysts, and also some state Medicaid directors, say that Medicaid programs should come out ahead. -
More managed care in Washington sets stage for Medicaid expansion
A greater percentage of Washington state's Medicaid population is being moved into managed care, most likely beginning with the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) population. "We will be going out with an RFP next year, for a start date of early 2012," reports MaryAnne Lindeblad, assistant secretary of the state's Department of Social and Health Services. -
Connecticut Medicaid sees many fiscal opportunities with reform
Michael P. Starkowski, commissioner of Connecticut's Department of Social Services, says that he sees "opportunities galore" in the health care reform legislation. "We are looking at a number of initiatives that are coming down the pike; some of those have pros and cons," says Mr. Starkowski. -
For outreach to newly eligible, consider reframing Medicaid as "new" program
States may have a fairly accurate picture of the number of individuals who will be newly eligible for Medicaid as of 2014, but getting them to actually enroll may be more difficult than expected. -
Kiosks may improve self-management of health conditions in Georgia
A Personal Health Advisor kiosk is being piloted in Georgia's Early County by the Georgia Department of Community Health and Atlanta's National Health Museum. Residents can now access current, personalized health assessments. -
Medicaid mortality rates significantly higher after major surgery
Medicaid patients had higher mortality after major surgeries than other patients, according to Primary Payer Status Affects Mortality for Major Surgical Operations, a new study from researchers at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville. The study was published in the September 2010 issue of Annals of Surgery. -
How accurate are Medicaid projections on expansion population?
Health care reform "is extraordinarily complex a massive, truly unprecedented social experiment," says Kip Piper, MA, FACHE, president of the Health Results Group in Washington, DC. "As Rick Foster, the CMS [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services] Chief Actuary, has correctly pointed out, there really is no way to precisely estimate enrollment." -
California Medicaid saving millions with progressive anti-fraud efforts
California's Department of Health Care Services' (DHCS) anti-fraud program is regarded among the top programs in the nation, reports department spokesman Anthony Cava. -
New rapid test identifies active TB
A new rapid tuberculosis test promises to help reduce health care worker exposures through early identification of patients.