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What We're Reading: Nebraska Medicaid Expansion; Sepsis Study Pushback; Clover Health Expands
Nebraska voters will decide on Medicaid expansion in November; a medical watchdog has called for a stop to a clinical trial for sepsis treatment; Medicare Advantage insurer Clover Health is expanding its health plans to 6 new markets.
Nebraska Puts Medicaid Expansion on the Ballot
A campaign to get Medicaid expansion on the ballot in Nebraska this November met all of its requirements, giving voters the decision to expand Medicaid to nearly 90,000 individuals. According to The Hill, Insure the Good Life, the ballot initiative committee, obtained 104,477 valid signatures, exceeding the signature requirement by more than 20,000. Nebraska marks the fourth state this year preparing to put Medicaid expansion on the ballot in November.
Medical Watchdog Calls for End to Sepsis Trial
As the National Institutes of Health continues to enroll patients in a clinical trial of sepsis treatment, medical watchdog Public Citizen is calling for the immediate halt of enrollment. The watchdog is also calling for an investigation into how the study received approval, arguing that it puts patients at risk of serious harm, STAT News reported. In a letter, it says the study's protocol is so "fundamentally flawed" that it will not produce reliable results.
Clover Health Launching MA Plan in 6 New Markets
Medicare Advantage (MA) insurer Clover Health announced a significant expansion with plans to enter 6 new markets in 2019. In the coming year, it will be offering its MA plans in El Paso, Texas; Camden, New Jersey; Charleston, South Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Tucson, Arizona. Clover Health also released results showing its technology has an 85% accuracy rate in identifying patients at risk of being admitted to the hospital in the next 28 days.
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.
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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.
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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.
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