Medicaid

Dual eligible beneficiaries who participate in Medicaid home and community-based waiver programs usually do not have a centralized care provider to manage their health care benefits and services. For the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, no individual is designated to assist participants with their prescription drug plan selection, comparison of…

In recent years states have been trying to shift resources from institutional to home and community based long-term care services. This report examines “transition” and “diversion” policies and practices in eight states. It provides a sense of what state Medicaid programs are doing or could be doing to promote diversion.Report…

Health Care Coverage and Financing Issues in California: An October 2005 UpdateThis brief summarizes recent health insurance coverage trends in California and the Medi-Cal program, provides an overview of the state’s newly adopted FY 2005-06 budget agreement, and discusses key issues driving the current health policy agenda. The brief concludes…

State Medicaid Outpatient Prescription Drug Policies: Findings from a National Survey, 2005 UpdateThis survey of state Medicaid pharmacy programs supplements surveys conducted in 2003 and 2000 and reports Medicaid prescription drug policies in effect in early 2005. It covers key elements of utilization management, drug purchasing and potential impacts of…

The 50-state annual survey of about budget conditions and Medicaid cost containment actions in FY2005-06 shows that all states implemented and planned more Medicaid cost-containment actions, but are also implementing expansions as the gap between Medicaid spending growth and state tax revenue narrowed.Report (.pdf)Executive Summary (.pdf)

The annual 50-state survey of enrollment and eligibility policies in Medicaid and SCHIP for low-income families reveals that 20 states are taking actions to simplify procedures and requirements for beneficiaries and, in some cases, expand eligibility. Report (.pdf) Executive Summary (.pdf)

A Comparison of Different Approaches to Extend Medicaid CoverageApproaches have been put forward to extend Medicaid coverage to Hurricane Katrina survivors, but they differ significantly regarding the extent to which they extend Medicaid eligibility and in the role of federal funding for coverage of Hurricane survivors. This publication provides an…

This update summarizes state Medicaid actions from July through September 2005 highlighting changes that governors and state legislators have announced or implemented. Issue Brief (.pdf)

Three KCMU state surveys indicate improving economy and sustained state cost-containment actions have improved the outlook for Medicaid and SCHIP, but long-term challenges remain due to factors affecting overall health care system. News Release Summary of Findings (.pdf) Medicaid Budgets, Spending and Policy Initiatives in State Fiscal Years 2005 and…

Premium Assistance Programs: How Are They Financed and Do States Save Money?This brief examines premium assistance programs implemented under section 1115 waivers in five states (Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah) to determine how they are financed; their eligibility, benefit, and cost sharing requirements; their methods for determining cost-effectiveness;…