Alabama House expedites Medicaid for pregnant women, joining other states with high mortality rates
MONTOGMERY, Ala. — A bill that would expedite Medicaid coverage and prenatal health care for low-income pregnant women in Alabama has advanced as lawmakers across the South try to address rising maternal and infant mortality rates.
The 'presumptive eligibility' legislation states that Medicaid will pay for a pregnant woman's outpatient medical care for up to 60 days while her application for the government-funded insurance program is being considered.
'This way we cut out some of the red tape, we get them in as quickly as possible,' said Rep. Marilyn Lands, the Democrat representing Huntsville who introduced the bill.
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USA Today
39 minutes ago
- USA Today
Medicaid churn: How working Americans could mistakenly lose coverage under Trump tax bill
Medicaid churn: How working Americans could mistakenly lose coverage under Trump tax bill Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump gives his thoughts on Elon Musk amid clash on bill President Donald Trump responded to Elon Musk's criticism of his "big, beautiful bill" with disappointment as Musk responded on X. A centerpiece of Donald Trump's tax bill would make millions of Medicaid recipients work, volunteer or study to maintain their publicly-financed health insurance. Republicans say the work requirement is vital to protect taxpayers while motivating nondisabled Medicaid recipients to take charge of their physical and fiscal health. Dr. Mehmet Oz challenged this population to "prove that you matter." But health advocacy groups and analysts say most recipients already work in jobs that don't provide affordable health insurance or pay enough for people to afford their own insurance. They say mandating a Medicaid work requirement − combined with more frequent eligibility checks − would create an administrative nightmare that drops coverage for many who qualify for the public health insurance program for low-income and disabled residents. What is Medicaid churn? Medicaid rolls vary from month to month as people lose eligibility due to a new job, a raise or other income source that disqualifies them for coverage. A job loss or change in life circumstances could make someone newly eligible. The constant change of Medicaid rolls is what health policy experts call churn. A person who temporarily loses coverage due to a paperwork issue or mistake then must again sign up. "Churn is what happens when these eligibility systems become difficult to navigate," said Jennifer Tolbert, deputy director of the program on Medicaid and the uninsured for KFF, a health policy nonprofit. The federal government requires state Medicaid programs to check enrollees eligibility once a year. The Trump tax cut legislation would mandate states double eligibility checks to twice a year. And states would have the added duty of verifying a person's employment or exemption status. The legislation, which passed the House and awaits Senate approval, mandates Medicaid recipients who are "able-bodied" adults without children work 80 hours per month or qualify for an exemption such as being a student, caregiver or having a disability. The bill defines able-bodied as people who are not medically certified as physically or unfit for employment. The legislation also would strip coverage from undocumented immigrants who get Medicaid through state-funded programs. Health policy experts say more frequent eligibility checks and red tape will add administrative costs and cut off people who qualify but fall through the cracks due to administrative miscues. "People are going to have to document work status or exemption status multiple times a year, and at each point there's a risk that someone who is eligible could lose coverage," Tolbert said. Thousands lost coverage under Arkansas work requirement During the first Trump administration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services gave states the option of implementing a work requirement for nondisabled adults on Medicaid. Arkansas' work requirement cut more than 18,000 residents from Medicaid within the first seven months of the program. People were removed often because people were unaware of paperwork requirements to keep their coverage, research shows and analysts said. In April, a study by researchers from the Urban Institute and Loyola University Chicago found the Arkansas uninsured rate jumped 7.4 percentage points among low-income adults age 30 to 49 after the state's work requirement began. The policy's impact on employment among that age group was "negative, small and statistically insignificant," the study said. Arkansas adults who didn't have access to the internet at home were disproportionately harmed by the policy, a sign adults might've had trouble accessing the state's online portal to report work histories or exemptions, the Urban Institute said. If the work requirement for Medicaid recipients is adopted nationwide, health experts say millions of working poor Americans will inevitably lose coverage. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated 10.9 million Americans would lose health insurance coverage through 2034 under the legislation. Most would lose coverage due to the Medicaid work requirement and the twice-a-year eligibility checks, but about 3.1 million would become uninsured from tweaks to Affordable Care Act enrollment, according to a KFF analysis. The ranks of the uninsured could grow larger if Congress doesn't extend the COVID-19 pandemic-era tax credits that have made ACA plans more affordable for consumers. If the tax credits expire and Congress passes the current version of the Trump tax bill, as many as 16 million Americans would lose coverage , according to CBO. "Coverage loss from work requirements should actually be very small," said Kathy Hempstead, a senior policy officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "But we anticipate it will be very large, because people will not be able to comply with the requirements and will lose their coverage." Dr. Oz: Medicaid spending is 'crippling the system' The Trump administration's top Medicaid official has defended the House legislation as a necessary step to slow spending for the federal health program that covers nearly 80 million low-income and disabled Americans. In a June 4 interview with Fox Business, Dr. Oz challenged Medicaid recipients who would face work requirements should "prove that you matter." Oz, the Trump-appointed administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said the work requirement asks "able-bodied individuals who are able to go back to work at least try to get a job or volunteer or take care of a loved one who needs help or go back into school. Do something to show you have agency over your future." In a Fox News interview posted on the social media site X, Oz said Medicaid spending has surged 50% since 2019, a pace that is "crippling the system." However, some Republicans have pushed back on the proposed cuts. In a May opinion piece in the New York Times, Sen. Josh Hawley, R- Missouri, said "slashing health insurance for the working poor" is "morally wrong and politically suicidal." Survey: Americans worried about Medicaid cuts The public is paying attention to the proposed Medicaid cuts. Slightly more than half of adults said they're worried significant cuts in Medicaid spending would negatively affect their family's ability to obtain and afford health care, according to a KFF health tracking poll released June 6. The survey this survey of 2,539 U.S. adults was conducted online and by telephone over three weeks in May. The survey said nearly 6 in 10 adults said the Trump administration's policies would weaken Medicaid, but there is a stark divide based on party affiliation. Nine in 10 Democrats but just 2 in 10 Republicans expect the administration's policies would weaken Medicaid. Republicans also were far more likely than Democrats to say that the Trump's policies would strengthen Medicaid. Still, while the survey suggests people are tracking the news, many likely wouldn't know whether their coverage has changed until they try to get medical care. "People don't often know that they've lost coverage until they try and fill a prescription or see a doctor," Tolbert said.
Health Line
an hour ago
- Health Line
A Guide to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency that provides health coverage to millions of people. It oversees programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. The CMS works closely with the entire healthcare community to improve the equity, quality, and outcomes within the healthcare system. What is CMS? CMS is the federal agency that helps provide health coverage for more than 160 million people across the United States. It oversees the following health insurance programs: Medicare Medicaid Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Health Insurance Marketplace CMS aims to strengthen and modernize the United States healthcare system and provide access to high quality care and improved health at lower costs. About Medicare Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 years old and over. Those under 65 years old who have an eligible illness or disability may also qualify for coverage through Medicare. Medicare has four parts that offer different coverage for your healthcare needs: Part A: This is also known as hospital insurance. It covers inpatient care in facilities like hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. Part A also covers some home healthcare and hospice care. Part B: This is also known as medical insurance. It covers outpatient care and services you might receive from a doctor, specialist, or other healthcare professional. Part B also covers durable medical equipment (DME) and some home healthcare. Part C (Medicare Advantage): This is an alternative to Original Medicare (parts A and B). It offers the same coverage but is provided by Medicare-approved private insurance companies. Medicare Advantage plans also typically include prescription drug coverage (Part D) and additional benefits, such as vision, hearing, and dental. Part D: This offers prescription drug coverage. Part D plans are offered through Medicare-approved private insurance companies. If you have Original Medicare, you can purchase a stand-alone Part D plan from one of these companies. The CMS oversees and manages the Medicare program. The Social Security Administration (SSA) manages Medicare enrollment and income-related monthly adjustment amounts (IRMAA) for Part B and Part D. About Medicaid Medicaid is a health insurance program that is run by individual states according to federal requirements. It is funded by both the state and federal governments. Medicaid provides health coverage to around 71.1 million people, including: adults with lower incomes pregnant individuals children older adults people with disabilities It is possible for you to qualify for coverage from both Medicaid and Medicare at the same time. This can help reduce or eliminate your out-of-pocket costs. About Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) CHIP helps provide comprehensive health insurance benefits to children. Each state runs its own CHIP program, which means that the exact coverage and benefits may vary. While states can choose what benefits to offer in their CHIP program, there are certain healthcare services they must include: dental vaccines behavioral health well-baby and well-child visits About the Health Insurance Marketplace The Health Insurance Marketplace can help you find health coverage if you don't already have it through Medicare, Medicaid, or employment. It can also help you: find answers to questions about health insurance compare health insurance plans for affordability and coverage find out if you are eligible for tax credits for private insurance or health programs like Medicare and Medicaid enroll in a health insurance plan that meets your needs Summary The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency that oversees health coverage programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It has a mission to strengthen the United States health system and provide access to high quality care and improved health at lower costs. The information on this website may assist you in making personal decisions about insurance, but it is not intended to provide advice regarding the purchase or use of any insurance or insurance products. Healthline Media does not transact the business of insurance in any manner and is not licensed as an insurance company or producer in any U.S. jurisdiction. Healthline Media does not recommend or endorse any third parties that may transact the business of insurance.
Yahoo
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- Yahoo
Fire Watch program; helping veterans, first responders cope with trauma
The Brief A new virtual program is helping veterans and first responders cope with trauma. The Fire Watch program is available at Rogers Behavioral Health. FOX6 News spoke with a peer specialist who is, himself, recovering from trauma after military service. WAUKESHA, Wis. - Veterans and emergency responders are often first to run into the line of fire. Now, a new virtual program is giving them support to work through the trauma. What we know When veteran Chris Swift came back from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said he had to learn some lessons the hard way. "Some people are like, 'Oh, tell me some cool stories.' Well, they're not always cool stories. They don't understand all the stuff that goes along with it," Swift said. "I drank a lot when I came back. I ended up getting three DUIs. I went to rehab at the VA for about four months, then I went to jail for about seven months." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Swift said he is now six years sober. He is also a peer specialist for the Fire Watch program at Rogers Behavioral Health. The goal of the program is to provide help and mental health support for veterans and first responders. The program first launched in September 2024. What they're saying "We can do a wide variety of things within this program. We focus on moral injury, but moral injury can come in a lot of different forms. And we can see it come across as anxiety or depression," said Jennifer Parra-Nelson, Clinical Director of Trauma Services & Fire Watch program. Moral injury is the guilt and shame that can come from trauma. The VA defines it as "the distressing psychological, behavioral, social, and sometimes spiritual aftermath of exposure to such events. A moral injury can occur in response to acting or witnessing behaviors that go against an individual's values and moral beliefs." Organizers said addressing that is an important part of the eight-week, 100% virtual program. Participants go through therapy, learn practical coping mechanisms, and connect with others going through the same thing. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News "We've seen a lot seen a lot of patients come in just with a lot of stigma. And with a lot of possibly thinking that maybe this won't work for them. And I think we've seen a lot of people be surprised that we are very accessible to this population," Parra-Nelson said. Swift said his goal is to help others who were in his shoes – for their sake and the sake of their loved ones. What you can do Learn much more about the Fire Watch program and how it might be able to help someone you love. Program organizers said insurance covers the Fire Watch program. Medicaid is also accepted. The Source The information in this post was provided, in part, by Rogers Behavioral Health.
