Medicaid

Missouri's Medicaid Director Leaves

Elana Gordon — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:48:26 +0000

The director of Missouri’s Medicaid program, Dr. Ian McCaslin, has left.

Missouri Legislature's Hot-Button Issues

Beth Lipoff and Steve Kraske — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Things have been heating up in Jefferson City during this legislative session.

A Review Of Medicaid In Missouri, Part 1: Eligibility Now And Under A Possible Expansion

Elana Gordon — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:57:01 +0000

Medicaid, the public health insurance program for low income and disabled residents, is no small chunk of change in Missouri. It comprises a huge portion of the state’s budget (more on that in Part 2). It also covers a lot of people: about one in ten residents.

So, to expand or not to expand Medicaid?

Medicaid Expansion Uncertain In Missouri

Elana Gordon — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:40:16 +0000

Last year’s Supreme Court ruling left a key part of the federal health law up to states to decide: whether to expand Medicaid. About half of states have said they’ll go along with an expansion. The rest are undecided or opposed. Leaders in Missouri are still divided on what to do. Missouri’s Governor supports an expansion but he faced one of his toughest crowds yet, when meeting with Senate leadership this week.

KanCare Selection Period Ends Thursday

Bryan Thompson — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:03:12 +0000

The clock is ticking for the 380,000 Kansans whose health insurance comes through the Medicaid program now known as KanCare.

The KanCare program assigned each member to one of three private companies administering the benefits as of the first of the year. Members who prefer to switch to a different company have to do so no later than this Thursday.

At a recent educational meeting in Hays, KDHE policy and program analyst Effie Swanson said one reason to switch might be if your doctor is not signed up with your health plan’s network.

Group Delivers 2,700 Signatures Asking Governor To Expand Medicaid

Stephen Koranda — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:57:08 +0000

Supporters of expanding Medicaid delivered nearly 3,000 signatures to Kansas Governor Sam Brownback's office Wednesday, asking him to support an expansion of the state's Medicaid program.

Anna Lambertson is with a coalition of organizations pushing for Medicaid expansion. She spoke during a rally at the Statehouse. She said it was good for workers and businesses.

Budget Item Would Assist Kansas Hospitals

Stephen Koranda — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:37:09 +0000

Hospitals in Kansas could lose some federal money if the state doesn't expand Medicaid services under the federal health care law. A lawmaker helping to draft the budget says the state needs to consider assisting those hospitals.

Missouri House OKs Budget, Rejects Medicaid Expansion

Marshall Griffin — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:30:20 +0000

The Missouri House has given first-round approval to the state budget for Fiscal Year 2014, while House Republicans beat back three attempts to expand Medicaid.

Medicaid Expansion Foiled Again

Marshall Griffin — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:47:17 +0000

It was not a good day for backers of Medicaid expansion, as the proposal suffered setbacks on both sides of the Missouri Capitol on Wednesday.

KanCare Tour Rescheduled After Weather Cancellations

Bryan Thompson — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:25:50 +0000

A series of informational meetings about KanCare has been rescheduled, after being cancelled due to snow storms last month.

Meetings for providers will take place March 18^th, in Hays; March 19^th, in Dodge City, and March 20^th, in Wichita. Each of those sessions will run from one to three in the afternoon.

Meetings for consumers will be held in Hays March 18^th, and in Wichita March 20^th. Those events will take place from six to eight in the evening.

Missouri Senate Leaders Deny Medicaid Flip Flop

Marshall Griffin — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:08:20 +0000

The head of the Missouri Senate is denying reports from some conservative bloggers that top Republicans are planning an about-face on Medicaid expansion.

Missouri Republican Proposes Market-Based Medicaid

Marshall Griffin — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:36:35 +0000

A long-promised Republican alternative to Medicaid expansion was filed in the Missouri House Tuesday. It’s being touted as “market-based Medicaid."

Under the bill, private insurers would compete to provide coverage for Medicaid recipients, and those recipients could get cash incentives for taking care of their health and avoiding costly medical procedures.

The bill is sponsored by GOP House Member Jay Barnes of Jefferson City.

Two Separate Mo. House Committees Reject Medicaid Expansion Efforts

Marshall Griffin — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:56:20 +0000

Medicaid expansion is dead for now in the Missouri House. Two separate House committees voted down efforts on Monday to expand Medicaid to 259-thousand Missourians next year and 41,000 more in later years.

Medicaid Debate Moves To Rural Missouri

Jennifer Davidson and KSMU — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:59:40 +0000

There’s a fierce battle raging behind the walls of the Capitol building in Jefferson City; it’s over whether to expand Medicaid in Missouri. Governor Jay Nixon supports the expansion, and is pushing it as “fundamentally a business decision.” He’s gaining ground in some traditionally conservative areas, but the issue is mired in politics.

Resolution In Kansas House Opposes Medicaid Expansion

Stephen Koranda — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:52:46 +0000

Kansas lawmakers are considering a resolution that would underscore the Legislature's opposition to a proposed expansion of Medicaid programs. House Speaker Ray Merrick, a Stilwell Republican, says he doesn't support making the state's health care program bigger.