Oklahoma governor seeks Medicaid expansion, plans block grant transition
March 6, 2020, Modern Healthcare, Harris Meyer – The administration of Oklahoma’s Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt has asked the CMS for approval to expand Medicaid to low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act as soon as July 1.nStitt told the Oklahoman newspaper Thursday that after submitting the state plan amendment, the state will follow up with the Trump administration to seek waivers to allow the state to impose premiums and work requirements on expansion enrollees under his proposed SoonerCare 2.0 plan. In addition, he said the state will seek CMS approval for waivers to convert the state’s Medicaid program into a capped federal funding model under the Trump administration’s newly announced Healthy Adult Opportunity program. He wants to shift beneficiaries into private Medicaid managed care plans. Click here to view the story.
Healthy Michigan work requirements struck down by federal court
March 6, 2020, Washington Examiner, The Center Square, Scott McClallen – A federal judge has struck down work requirements for Healthy Michigan’s Medicaid expansion program. Those rules required able-bodied adults ages 19-62 to report an average of 80 hours per month working or in school to keep health care benefits through the state. U.S District Judge James Boasberg in Washington issued the ruling, which follow past court decisions in Arkansas. A U.S. Appeals Court struck down work requirements in Arkansas on February 14, 2020, ruling that “the principal objective of Medicaid is providing health care coverage,” Senior Circuit Judge David B. Sentelle wrote. Click here to view the story.
Judge blocks Michigan’s Medicaid work requirement
March 4, 2020, Modern Healthcare, Harris Meyer – A federal judge on Wednesday blocked Michigan’s Medicaid work requirement, which took effect in January and could have resulted in thousands of low-income adults losing coverage as early as June. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington vacated HHS’ December 2018 approval of Michigan’s “community engagement” waiver that required Medicaid expansion enrollees to report 80 hours a month of work or other “community engagement” activities to retain their coverage. He is still considering the legality of new premiums and copays under the waiver. Click here to view the story.