Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Many Lack Health Coverage Before Pregnancy And After Giving Birth
While many pregnant women gain coverage through Medicaid, ensuring they have insurance after giving birth remains a significant challenge, according to a new study. Researchers at the Urban Institute, a left-leaning think tank, found that 26.8% of new mothers covered for prenatal care through Medicaid were uninsured prior to becoming pregnant. In addition, 21.9% became uninsured again within two to six months of their child's birth, the study found. (Minemyer, 4/7)
For decades, women in Florida who give birth and don’t have health insurance have been eligible for two months of Medicaid, the public health program, but now, a group of lawmakers in the state House of Representatives from both parties are working together to extend that 60 days of Medicaid coverage after birth. (Zaragovia, 4/8)
Also —
The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission is poised to recommend changes to how Medicaid pays for high-cost specialty drugs. At MACPAC's April meeting on Thursday, commissioners signaled they would recommend Congress increase the minimum rebate percentage and additional inflationary rebate on drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration through the accelerated approval program. According to the draft recommendations, the increased minimum rebate percentage and additional inflationary rebate would apply to a drug until the drugmaker completes the confirmatory trial and gets full FDA approval. (Brady, 4/8)
An Oklahoma state lawmaker introduced legislation Wednesday to stop Gov. Kevin Stitt from overhauling Oklahoma's Medicaid program. Rep. Marcus McEntire introduced legislation for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to implement internal managed care as opposed to outsourcing care management for most Medicaid recipients to four major insurance companies. In other words, McEntire, R-Duncan, wants to reform the Health Care Authority so the agency better manages health care for Medicaid recipients in-house. (Forman, 4/8)
And in news on Medicare payments --
Hospices and skilled nursing facilities are likely to get a pay bump in 2022, CMS said Thursday. The agency plans to increase hospice payments by 2.3%, or $530 million, in 2022. The proposed aggregate cap for hospice payments is just under $31,390. According to a CMS fact sheet, CMS also plans to update the labor shares for continuous home care, route home care, inpatient respite care, and general inpatient care. (Brady, 4/8)
