Medicaid

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) gave nearly $165 million to help rural hospitals and telehealth resource centers combat COVID-19, which can be used by facilities to buy personal protective gear, increase testing and take other actions to respond to COVID-19.

The Trump administration told the Supreme Court on Monday (April 20) that the so-called public charge rule should remain in effect during the coronavirus pandemic, despite concerns of some state and local officials who say the rule is deterring immigrants from getting tested or treated for the virus.

The Senate is poised to vote on a $475 billion coronavirus relief package Tuesday afternoon that includes $75 billion for providers as well as funding to replenish a program that helps employees of small businesses.

Oklahomans will vote at the end of June on a ballot measure that seeks to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act -- the latest in a series of red state referendums on Medicaid expansion in recent years.

A second round of CARES Act grants to health care providers will start going out this week, with a portion of the money targeted at providers in areas that have been hit hardest by the coronavirus, CMS Administrator Seema Verma said Wednesday (April 15).

Beneficiary advocates, hospitals, and governors want to see more funding, expanded telehealth authorities and a focus on health disparities in a fourth coronavirus stimulus package Congress is crafting.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and the top Democrats on key health committees -- Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) -- allege HHS didn’t follow Congress’ intent in how it distributed the initial $30 billion of the $100 billion in CARES Act funding for providers, demanding the remainder of the funds be distributed more equitably and target the areas hit hardest hit by the pandemic.

Hospitals and lawmakers are calling on the Trump administration to prioritize Medicaid providers and hot spots in the allocation of the remaining $70 billion relief fund from the CARES Act, with many saying some providers have been shortchanged by HHS’ allocation method for the initial $30 billion disbursement.

Three Democrats are concerned that White House Senior Advisor Jared Kushner is tapping tech companies to help in sharing protected health data to establish a national coronavirus surveillance system and are calling on the administration to provide more information on its plans.