Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Medicaid Expansion Deal Struck By North Carolina Lawmakers
North Carolina legislative leaders announced Thursday an agreement to expand Medicaid to hundreds of thousands of additional low-income adults through the Affordable Care Act. The deal, which likely won鈥檛 be voted on until later this month at the earliest, marks a milestone for Republican lawmakers, most of whom opposed expansion for a decade until recently, and for hospitals and patient advocates who sought it all that time. (Robertson, 3/2)
The deal that would expand Medicaid health insurance coverage in North Carolina hinged in part on agreement to change a state law that determines where hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities are built. Top lawmakers in the House and Senate say they have agreed to allow construction or expansion of certain facilities without a 鈥渃ertificate of need鈥 from the state Department of Health and Human Services. The facilities would include those that provide inpatient treatment of behavioral health problems and chemical dependence. (Stradling, 3/2)
Also 鈥
New mothers in Missouri could gain Medicaid health care coverage for up to a year under legislation passed Thursday by the state Senate, part of a national movement of expanded care that began during the coronavirus pandemic. The bill also would extend coverage to those who have miscarriages or abortions necessary to save their lives. Senators passed the legislation only after inserting wording intended to exclude women who get elective abortions. Missouri has banned most abortions since June. (Lieb, 3/2)
A bill to bring the state鈥檚 Medicaid reimbursement rates in line with a recent study commissioned by the state won a substantial, bipartisan endorsement in the House. The preliminary vote on House Bill 649 followed an impassioned debate about the state鈥檚 role in ensuring adequate health care for the elderly, disabled and other vulnerable populations in Montana. The bill cleared a second reading by a 65-35 margin. (Schabacker and Wilson, 3/2)
On Thursday, advocacy groups organized their own 鈥減ublic hearing鈥 at the Capitol to demand state lawmakers expand Medicaid to cover an estimated 1.4 million low-income adults who are uninsured. Dozens of Texans squished into a windowless committee room as people aired their anxieties about trying to balance their budgets with medical needs. Boyd couldn鈥檛 attend in person, so a speaker read out her testimony as the Houston resident watched on through the video app FaceTime. (Morris, 3/2)
KHN's 'What The Health?' Podcast:: March Medicaid Madness
With Medicare and Social Security apparently off the table for federal budget cuts, the focus has turned to Medicaid, the federal-state health program for those with low incomes. President Joe Biden has made it clear he wants to protect the program, along with the Affordable Care Act, but Republicans will likely propose cuts to both when they present a proposed budget in the next several weeks. (3/2)
