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It's All Politics
When It Comes To Entitlements, Obama Feels Heat From Left And Right
December 12, 2012 Despite his re-election and bolstered Democratic numbers in Congress, President Obama has far from a free hand to make a comprehensive deal with House Speaker John Boehner that would include cuts to entitlement programs. Strong resistance to that notion is coming from the political left — and with a warning.
Shots - Health News
Feds Say 'No' To Partial Medicaid Expansion
December 11, 2012 In the Supreme Court's Affordable Care Act ruling this summer, it decided that states' plans for expansion of the Medicaid program should be optional. That led governors to ask if they could expand the program in part but still receive federal funding. The administration has said no.
Shots - Health News
Health Care Cuts Are Coming: Here's Where Liberals Say You Can Slice
November 14, 2012 As the White House and Congress debate taxes and entitlement reform, an influential liberal think tank is offering what appears to be an olive branch: a plan to squeeze savings out of Medicare — long a target of GOP cuts — that Democrats can support.
Shots - Health News
OB-GYNs And ER Docs Miss Out On Medicaid Pay Hike
November 2, 2012 KHNThe Affordable Care Act included a Medicaid pay hike for primary care doctors. It's an incentive for them to see the larger number of patients who will be covered by an expansion of Medicaid under the law. Some other specialists who say they also provide primary care won't be eligible for the increase.
Shots - Health News
Democrats And Republicans Differ On Medicaid Fix
October 2, 2012 Medicaid is likely to undergo a major change regardless of whether President Obama is re-elected or replaced by Republican Mitt Romney. Democrats support a much bigger program. Republicans have plans to scale it back.
Shots - Health News
Medicaid Helps Washington, D.C., Clinic Care For Ex-Prisoners
September 17, 2012 KHNAfter they are released, former prisoners often don't have jobs or health insurance. The federal health law's Medicaid expansion could change that soon, though. Some states and the District of Columbia are getting a head start.
Shots - Health News
Health Law Gives Medicare Fraud Fighters New Weapons
August 21, 2012 KHNCriminals who defraud public health care programs to the tune of billions of dollars a year are now up against sophisticated computer systems designed to catch them. But the new efforts may yield far more leads than the current team of investigators and analysts can handle.
Shots - Health News
Flaws And All, Medicaid Can Improve Adults' Health
July 25, 2012 When Oregon couldn't pay for everyone eligible for Medicaid to be covered, the state resorted to a lottery. Researchers then compared the health of people who won coverage with those who didn't. The results show that Medicaid improves people's health.
Shots - Health News
After Supreme Court Ruling, Health Law Will Cover Fewer And Cost Less
July 24, 2012 The Supreme Court decision that made the expansion of Medicaid optional for states will result in 3 million fewer people getting coverage. And that will also reduce the overall price tag of the law over the next decade by about $84 billion.
Shots - Health News
Pennsylvania Cuts Medicaid Coverage For Dental Care
July 14, 2012 WESAPennsylvania used to have broad coverage of dental care for Medicare beneficiaries. But cuts to the state budget have led the Medicaid program to cover only basic dental services.
Shots - Health News
Will Medicaid Bring The Uninsured Out Of The Woodwork?
July 11, 2012 As governors weigh whether to participate in an expansion of Medicaid under the federal health law, some worry the change could attract people who don't qualify for a special subsidy. Adding them to Medicaid rolls could strain states' budgets.
Shots - Health News
Texas Gov. Perry Says No To Medicaid Expansion
July 9, 2012 Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry called the federal health overhaul law a "power grab" and rejected an expansion of Medicaid in the state to cover more people with low incomes. The recent Supreme Court ruling on the administration's health law makes participation in the expansion optional.
Shots - Health News
Medicaid Expansion: Who's In? Who's Out?
July 5, 2012 Five states have said they will not expand Medicaid in the week since the Supreme Court's decision ruled the administration's health law could not be used to force the change. Low-income people who aren't poor enough to qualify for Medicaid now may be left high and dry.
Planet Money
Does Medicaid Make People Healthier?
July 3, 2012 The question is more contentious than it sounds. A new study may finally provide an answer.
Shots - Health News
High Court Health Care Ruling Shifts Action To States
June 29, 2012 The decision shifts much of the burden of implementing the law to the states, which are responsible for the lion's share of getting people without insurance covered under the health law. States also now have to make a decision about expanding Medicaid coverage to their poorest people.
