Latest news with #CHIP
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hawley says Trump told him ‘no Medicaid benefit cuts'
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who has pushed back against a House proposal to reduce Medicaid spending by hundreds of billions of dollars, says President Trump told him Monday that the final bill encompassing his domestic agenda will not include any cuts to Medicaid benefits. 'Just had a great talk with President Trump about the Big, Beautiful Bill. He said again, NO MEDICAID BENEFIT CUTS,' Hawley posted on the social platform X. That post appeared to prompt a response from Texas Rep. Chip Roy (R), a vocal proponent of adding additional deficit-reducing reforms to the reconciliation bill, who argued that Medicaid needs to stop subsidizing able-bodied adults. 'Just had a great talk with my kids. They said again, STOP BORROWING MONEY TO PROP UP WASTEFUL SPENDING & TO SUBSIDIZE THE ABLE-BODIED OVER THE VULNERABLE,' Roy posted. The Congressional Budget Office estimated on a preliminary basis that the House bill would cut gross Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by more than $800 billion over 10 years and reduce Medicaid enrollment by 10.3 million people, according to the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) have also raised concerns about the potential impact of Medicaid spending cuts on constituents and rural hospitals. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Opinion: Medicaid cuts will harm children and education in Utah
Federal and local funding cuts to the Medicaid program, as well as unnecessary eligibility requirements, could cost thousands of Utahns access to continual and preventative healthcare. On the surface, it appears that Medicaid is sometimes viewed as a line item on the budget and a candidate for cutting back to save pennies and offset tax cuts. However, I caution our federal and local representatives to not underestimate the benefits of our social programs, like Medicaid, beyond their budgetary justification. My mother enrolled in Medicaid for her three children. When I fell sick, she could afford to take me to a doctor and get the medication I needed. Because she had access to the program, I was able to return to school and I was ready to continue my educational success. Without this public health service, it is likely I would have missed more days of school, and my mind would have often been foggy, interfering with my concentration in school. No school resource, excellent teacher, textbook or private school voucher could have overcome these health-related speed bumps. Not only did having access to healthcare through Medicaid benefit my health, but it also facilitated my academic achievement. My experience with Medicaid is not unique. Any parent knows that children frequently get sick. In addition, the proportion of children enrolled in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) range from 8% to 43% across school districts in Utah including 27% and 23% of students within Granite and Salt Lake City School Districts, respectively, and 43% within San Juan School District. While these numbers sound like a health-related budgetary challenge, they also play a significant role in our educational system. Although logical on face value, substantial data show that sick children underperform and miss more days of school compared to their peers. For example, the National Center for Health Statistics reported that, in 2022, nearly 6% of students nationwide missed 15 or more days of school because of health-related issues; among those students, around 29% had fair to poor health compared to only 5% among healthy students. Additionally, acute and chronic health conditions, as well as risky health behaviors, have been associated with lower school grades. Children have a greater opportunity at succeeding in school when they can take care of their health. Considering that reading comprehension has dipped, on average, and about 20% of Utah students are considered chronically absent, it is crucial for our decision makers to consider all of the holistic factors that contribute to or impede educational success. So why is public health insurance important for education? In 2023, over 50,000 Utahns under 19 years old were uninsured, a figure that will likely increase with cuts to Medicaid. Children without insurance coverage are less likely to receive preventative care and have access to prescriptions compared to their insured peers, even when insured for part of the year. In fact, prior expansions of Medicaid were associated with increases in healthcare utilization and decreases in preventable hospital visits and mortality, as well as increased reading test scores, greater rates of graduating high school and upward economic mobility. Restricting eligibility to Medicaid will have negative consequences, not only on children's health, but also on their educational journey, undermining our state's investment in public education. The relation between Medicaid eligibility, educational attainment, future health and economic success creates an inter-related cycle; one that can lead to more successful and healthier Utah families. In other words, families eligible for Medicaid can care for their children's health needs and, in turn, these children will have a greater chance of graduating from high school, having higher earnings and being more productive, therefore potentially offsetting the costs of the program. In Utah, we spend billions of dollars on public education. We should be focused on strengthening all social services that get the most out of our constitutional investment. Medicaid is one of those programs. I encourage our federal and state representatives to see Medicaid as more than a budgetary line item. Instead, view it as an investment in Utah's education and an investment in our future.
The Hill
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Hill
Hawley says Trump told him ‘no Medicaid benefit cuts'
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who has pushed back against a House proposal to reduce Medicaid spending by hundreds of billions of dollars, says President Trump told him on Monday that the final bill encompassing his domestic agenda will not include any cuts to Medicaid benefits. 'Just had a great talk with President Trump about the Big, Beautiful Bill. He said again, NO MEDICAID BENEFIT CUTS,' Hawley posted on the social media platform X. That post appeared to prompt a response from Texas Rep. Chip Roy (R), a vocal proponent of adding additional deficit-reducing reforms to the reconciliation bill, who argued that Medicaid needs to stop subsidizing able-bodied adults. 'Just had a great talk with my kids. They said again, STOP BORROWING MONEY TO PROP UP WASTEFUL SPENDING & TO SUBSIDIZE THE ABLE-BODIED OVER THE VULNERABLE,' Roy posted. The Congressional Budget Office estimated on a preliminary basis that the House bill would cut gross Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by ore than $800 billion over 10 years and reduce Medicaid enrollment by 10.3 million people, according to the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) have also raised concerns about the potential impact of Medicaid spending cuts on constituents and rural hospitals.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
More Than a Million Americans Removed From Health Care Plan in One Month
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. More than one million Americans lost health coverage in a single month at the end of last year as states continued to unwind pandemic-era coverage protections. According to data published by KFF, a nonprofit health policy research and news organization, national enrollment in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) dropped from 79,569,888 in November 2024 to 78,532,341 in December 2024, a net loss of 1,037,547 enrollees. Newsweek has contacted the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) outside of regular hours via email for comment. Why It Matters The unwinding process has significantly reshaped Medicaid enrollment across the U.S. Under federal rules in place during the pandemic, states were required to keep most Medicaid recipients continuously enrolled, even if their eligibility status changed. That requirement expired in March 2023, allowing states to resume removing individuals from the program. Since the unwinding began, enrollment has steadily declined, driven by both eligibility losses and procedural disenrollments—when individuals lose coverage due to missing paperwork or administrative errors rather than no longer qualifying. File photo: Medicaid activists wait to enter the House Energy and Commerce. File photo: Medicaid activists wait to enter the House Energy and Commerce. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP What To Know The drop represents one of the many steep single-month declines recorded since states began redetermining eligibility in early 2023, following the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration. The December enrollment figure of 78.5 million is the lowest recorded figure since late 2020. For comparison, total Medicaid enrollment peaked at 94.6 million in April 2023, during the pandemic-era continuous coverage period. State-by-state trends also show uneven disenrollment rates, with Utah reporting disenrollment rates as high as 31 percent between March 2023 and December 2024, followed by Texas with 30 percent, while South Dakota saw a 2 percent decrease in enrollment in the same time frame. California, Maine, Alaska, Connecticut, and Oregon were other states that only saw a single-figure disenrollment rate during that time. KFF reported that child enrollment in the two programs is now below pre-pandemic enrollment in 13 states, while adult enrollment is below pre-pandemic levels in 7 states. Although, while in some states' disenrollment happened rapidly, returning to enrollment rates matching the early 2020 numbers, national Medicaid and CHIP enrollment is not yet back to pre-pandemic levels. What People Are Saying Eileen Sullivan-Marx, dean and professor of New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, told Newsweek: "It would be hard to know what caused this one month decline, however, it does reinforce that there is a projected trend downward continuing. It could be that some of the state differentials that month are skewing the whole data downward between November and December. I also notice that this is mostly a steeper downward trend for adults. The tendencies presently occurring have to do with disenrollments and the difficulty to re-enroll once disenrolled. If states do not make sure that there is a smooth way to re-enroll or enroll on a regular basis then there could be sharper decline in those enrolled in Medicaid." She added: "Disenrollments that are occurring simply because it is hard to re-enroll have consequences for those who need coverage in terms of accessing health care, getting medications, having to pay privately for a nursing home stay." Ben Anderson, the deputy senior director of health policy at Families USA, a health care-focused consumer advocacy group, told KFF in September: "We have seen some amazing coverage expansion in places like Oregon and California. But if you live in Texas, Florida, and Georgia, since the pandemic your health coverage has been disrupted in ways that were preventable by state leaders." What Happens Next As the unwinding continues, more reductions in enrollment are expected. With millions already having lost health coverage, concerns remain about access to care for low-income individuals and families.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Benevis Celebrates Decade-Long Impact of Delivering Free Dental Care to Over 3,800 Uninsured Children and Adults During Sharing Smiles Day
The 10th annual volunteer event held on Sunday, May 18, brought together 22 local dental practices and 331 volunteers across 11 states to treat patients' oral health at no cost. Atlanta, GA, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Benevis is proud to share that over the course of the last 10 years, company volunteers have positively impacted the oral health of more than 3,800 uninsured and underinsured patients during Sharing Smiles Day. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the annual event with 22 Benevis' supported practices in 11 states participating along with 331 employee volunteers, including clinicians, hygienists, and dental practice staff and executives, who dedicated their time to serve over 400 children and adults. Sharing Smiles Day has established itself as a national event that directly impacts community health outcomes by helping to combat the lack of dependable oral healthcare for children and educating families on healthy dental habits. As a leading dental healthcare and orthodontics delivery organization committed to providing quality care to underserved communities, Benevis recognizes the vital need to address the emergent oral care of all patients, especially those without insurance. For the past decade, patients have relied on Sharing Smiles Day to bridge gaps in their dental healthcare by receiving much-needed dental exams, cleanings, emergency care, extractions, and restorative care. 'Sharing Smiles Day has become a meaningful tradition for Benevis, as it reflects our dedication to addressing the critical dental needs of underserved communities,' said Bryan Carey, CEO of Benevis. 'With proposed changes to Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage on the horizon, many families face increased uncertainty and difficulty affording essential dental services. We believe that everyone should have access to a dental home regardless of their coverage status. That's why we are so thankful for our clinical team members and staff who volunteer their time to give free dental care to uninsured or underinsured families on Sharing Smiles Day, out of compassion and as a fundamental part of our community-focused mission at Benevis.' For over 20 years, Benevis has treated almost five million patients in underserved communities, including 82% who are enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP plans. The dental healthcare and orthodontics delivery organization supports a network of like-minded, community-focused dentists across the U.S. who prioritize accessible and affordable patient health. Over the past 10 years, Sharing Smiles Day event has brought together more than 3,300 Benevis volunteers in 13 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., to provide compassionate care and prioritize dental education on daily brushing, flossing, and the importance of good nutrition for a healthy smile. 'Benevis is driven by our continued commitment to expand access to high-quality dental care for children and families who cannot afford routine care,' said Dr. Mayfield, DMD, chief dental officer of Benevis. 'Oral health is a critical component of overall health, and it's our responsibility as healthcare providers to help bridge the dental health disparity divide, which is exactly what Sharing Smiles Day has done for thousands of patients over 10 years. This event is one of the many ways we're working towards a more equitable future.' To learn more about Sharing Smiles Day, visit About BenevisBenevis is a leading dental healthcare delivery organization for practices focused on delivering life-changing oral care and orthodontics to underserved communities. Through comprehensive care and operational services that expand access to dentistry, Benevis has a 20-year history of providing the highest quality care to approximately 5 million children and adults. Its network reaches more than 100 locally branded dental offices across the U.S. that deliver treatment through 1.4 million visits each year. Benevis also advocates for programs and legislation that ensure all families have access to the oral healthcare they need and dental practices include Allington Dental & Braces, Cortland Dental & Braces, Creston Dental & Braces, Dorsett Dentistry & Braces, Elstar Dental & Braces, Franklin Dental & Braces, Goodland Dentistry & Braces, Jubilee Dental & Braces, Pine Dentistry & Braces, Pinova Dental & Braces, Pippin Dental & Braces, Porter Dental & Braces, Ruby Dental & Braces, Spencer Dental & Braces, Sunnybrook Dentistry & Braces, Sutton Dental & Braces, Taylor Dental & Braces, Topaz Dentistry & Braces, Youth Dentistry Georgia, and Kansas Youth Dental. For more information, visit CONTACT: Kay Blazar Benevis 401-490-9700 benevis@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
