Medicaid

In a significant blow to the Trump administration’s effort to remake Medicaid, a federal judge ruled Friday (June 29) that CMS overstepped its authority when it approved work requirements and other coverage restrictions in Kentucky’s Medicaid program.

CMS’ new plan to reduce Medicaid overpayments does not go nearly far enough, the top congressional watchdog told the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee Wednesday (June 27) as Democrats denounced CMS Administrator Seema Verma for declining the committee’s invitation to testify.

CMS on Wednesday (June 27) approved Oklahoma’s request to negotiate Medicaid supplemental rebates based on the outcomes of drugs. Under the plan, Oklahoma would receive an additional rebate in the event drugs subject to the agreement do not result in the desired clinical outcomes.

Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) appears likely to remain recalcitrant in his refusal to expand the state’s Medicaid program despite a nearly $60 million spending bill the Maine legislature approved last week that would pay for the state’s share of expansion.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed a bill Friday (June 22) to seek CMS’ permission to add an 80-hour-a-month work requirement to the state's Medicaid program and raise premiums for some beneficiaries.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) is prepared to take the legal battle over Medicaid work requirements all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R), steadfast in his refusal to implement the state’s voter-approved Medicaid expansion, is asking the state’s supreme court for a stay of a lower court ruling that he must submit paperwork to CMS to start the expansion--even as Maine's lawmakers reconvened Tuesday (June 19) and took up legislation to fund the state’s share of expanding the program.

Congressional advisers for Medicare and Medicaid sent their June 2018 reports to Congress Friday (June 15) with expected recommendations on reducing Medicare payment rates for some emergency departments and strengthening the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program.

CMS issued guidance to states Monday (June 11) on ways Medicaid can treat infants who are born exposed to opioids and how states can use enhanced federal match rates to expand prescription monitoring and other health technology in their efforts to combat opioid abuse among adults.