medicaid

Senate Confirms Former Nurse to Run Medicare

Posted on 05/16/2013 by | General News | Comments

Bulletin Today | Medicare | PoliticsBy Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar of The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A former intensive care nurse with a businesslike approach to a politically divisive public policy area won Senate approval May 15 to run Medicare and other major health insurance programs. By an overwhelming 91-7 vote, the Senate confirmed Marilyn Tavenner to oversee Medicare, Medicaid, children’s health insurance and coverage for the uninsured under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. Together, the programs under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services …

5 Reasons to Care About Medicaid Expansion

Posted on 05/15/2013 by | AARP Blog Author | Comments

PoliticsNine states have passed Medicaid expansion this year, with another 15 on the brink of extending health coverage to more hard-working citizens. Why is Medicaid expansion, which would extend Medicaid health coverage to people who earn about $15,000 a year (138% of the federal poverty level), so important? Here are the top 5 reasons: 1. 50- to 64-year olds: Medicaid expansion will provide health care coverage to tens of thousands of hard-working Americans between the ages of 50 to 64. Many …

4 States That Snubbed Health Law Gaining Jobs From It

Posted on 05/10/2013 by | Health | Comments

Bulletin TodayBy Phil Galewitz, Senior Correspondent, Kaiser Health News Four states that have snubbed the federal health law by defaulting to the federal government to build new online insurance marketplaces and not agreeing to expand Medicaid are getting new jobs at call centers that will help consumers understand their new coverage options this fall. Up to 9,000 jobs are expected to be created at call centers to support the new federally run marketplaces. A Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman said some of them …

Congress Nibbles at Obama’s Budget

Posted on 04/18/2013 by | Washington Watch | Comments

Bulletin Today | PoliticsNow it’s Congress’ turn. Last week President Obama made his budget proposal, and lawmakers on Capitol Hill already have begun trying to bend it to their will. On April 18, in fact, the House Ways and Means Committee will take up one of the most controversial pages in the budget book: the proposal to change the way that benefits under Social Security and other federal programs are adjusted for inflation. The “chained consumer price index,” or chained CPI, would mean …

States Move to Coordinate Care for Medicare, Medicaid

Posted on 04/17/2013 by | AARP Blog Author | Comments

Public Policy InstituteBy Wendy Fox-Grage I have been studying long-term services and supports (LTSS) across the nation for nearly 20 years, so it is hard to surprise me. However, whenever 34 states take on major new initiatives aimed at cutting costs and  improving care, I take notice, especially given that most of these efforts will occur within the next two years! A recent study shows two-thirds of states have or are planning initiatives to better coordinate care for people who are eligible …

4 Ways Obama’s Budget Would Change Medicare

Posted on 04/15/2013 by | Health | Comments

Bulletin Today | Personal Health | PoliticsAdapted from an article by Mary Agnes Carey, Senior Correspondent, Kaiser Health News President Barack Obama’s fiscal 2014 budget includes a variety of what he says are “manageable” changes for Medicare’s 54 million beneficiaries as well as for the hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers that serve them. That assessment has drawn concern from some patient and provider groups that, although recognizing the need to address the nation’s rising health care costs, say seniors shouldn’t bear the brunt …

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