WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is trying to allow states greater flexibility to change their Medicaid programs without asking the federal government for special waivers, a top health official said here Thursday.
For example, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has tried to ease regulations in recent months -- beginning last August -- to allow states to create integrated delivery models for Medicaid without such waivers, Cindy Mann, JD, said at a meeting of the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC).
More recently, CMS allowed states to increase patient cost-sharing for using nonpreferred drugs or making unnecessary emergency department visits, said Mann, who is director of Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at CMS.
Read the full story here: http://bit.ly/111HUud
Source: MedPageToday.com
Hospital Participation in Medicare ACOs: No Change in Admission Practices and Spending
August 19th 2025Hospital accountable care organization (ACO) participation did not impact emergency department admission rates, length of stay, or costs, suggesting limited effectiveness in reducing spending for unplanned admissions and challenging hospital-led ACO cost-saving strategies.
Read More
Laundromats as a New Frontier in Community Health, Medicaid Outreach
May 29th 2025Lindsey Leininger, PhD, and Allister Chang, MPA, highlight the potential of laundromats as accessible, community-based settings to support Medicaid outreach, foster trust, and connect families with essential health and social services.
Listen
Care Quality Metrics in Medicare During COVID-19 Pandemic
August 12th 2025Medicare Advantage outperformed traditional Medicare on clinical quality measures before and during the COVID-19 pandemic; mid-pandemic, however, traditional Medicare narrowed the gap on some in-person screenings.
Read More