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Category Archives: Medicaid

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CMS Addresses DSH Cuts; Impact on States That Do Not Expand Medicaid Remains Unclear

By Melissa James Jackson on Posted in Affordable Care Act, Health Care, Health Care Reform, Medicaid

Earlier this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule that cuts federal payments to hospitals for uncompensated care.  What still remains unclear, however, is how these cuts will impact states that do not expand their Medicaid programs. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires significant cuts to Disproportionate Share Hospital… Continue Reading

HPIO Resources on Medicaid Expansion in Ohio

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Affordable Care Act, Health Care Reform, Medicaid

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) has recently added to its collection of Medicaid resources a brief focused on projected new employment and new local general sales tax revenues due to Medicaid expansion.  Governor Kasich’s budget proposal includes language expanding Medicaid eligibility up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or $32,499 for a… Continue Reading

VHCA Webinar: How the Governor’s Executive Budget Impacts Providers

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Medicaid

Vorys Health Care Advisors professionals, Maureen Corcoran and Daphne Saneholtz, along with Vorys attorney Suzanne Scrutton, will present How the Governor’s Executive Budget Impacts Providers 12 pm – 1 pm (Eastern time) on February 21. The presentation will discuss: Impact of the following on providers: Budget proposals affecting the behavioral health, developmental disability, child welfare,… Continue Reading

No Enhanced Federal Funds For Partial Medicaid Expansion

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Affordable Care Act, Health Care Reform, Medicaid

Last week, 11 governors – including those in Ohio, Arizona, Louisiana, Florida, Virginia, Iowa, Maine, Mississippi, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming - submitted a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asking whether states that expand Medicaid eligibility to a level less than that included in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are eligible to… Continue Reading

Changes to Federal EHR Rule Will Likely Benefit Medicaid Providers

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Health Care, Medicaid

Vorys’ HealtHITech Law blog recently shared news regarding two key changes to federal rules related to implementation of electronic health records (EHR) for Medicaid providers.  These two changes are likely to benefit providers seeking Medicaid incentive payments for EHR. Read about these changes and others included in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs Stage… Continue Reading

States Begin to Choose Essential Health Benefits for Their Citizens

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Health Care Reform, Medicaid

Although not a “hard” deadline, states were encouraged to submit to the federal government by Monday, October 1, 2012, their lists of essential health benefits required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Essential health benefits are a set of health care service categories that must be covered by certain plans beginning in 2014.  According to… Continue Reading

Ohio Medicaid Announces Initiative to Enhance Clinical Guidelines for Prescribing Psychotropic Medications to Children

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Behavioral Health, Medicaid

The Columbus Dispatch recently published a story on an initiative undertaken by Ohio Medicaid aimed at improving psychotropic-drug management by closely monitoring prescriptions and focusing on the safe, effective and appropriate use of psychotropic medications among children on Medicaid. This goal is important for all Ohio children on Medicaid, and there is a special focus… Continue Reading

ACA Teleseminar Recording Now Available

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Health Care Reform, Medicaid

Now available: A recording of the July 2 teleseminar regarding the U. S. Supreme Court’s decision on the fate of the Affordable Care Act, provided by Vorys Health Care Advisors (VHCA) and Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease. You can also review VHCA’s PowerPoint presentation on which the Medicaid portion of the teleseminar was based.

VHCA Discusses Changing Health Care Landscape and Potential Future Opportunities for Assisted Living Providers

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Health Care Reform, Medicaid

VHCA recently published an article in the Ohio Assisted Living Association’s quarterly newsletter.  The article is focused on the changing health care environment and potential future opportunities for assisted living providers.  Topics include: Medicare quality and payment reform provisions that could impact assisted living providers- Medicare Shared Savings Program Reducing avoidable hospitalizations in Medicare National… Continue Reading

Health Care Reform: Count Down to Decision Day (Part II)

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Health Care, Health Care Reform, Medicaid

In our last post, we discussed the practical impact on the American public of the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion.  There are also significant repercussions for states, as described below. What does the Medicaid expansion really mean for States?  For Ohio, specifically? • States will be responsible for up to 10% of the cost of the… Continue Reading

Health Care Reform: Count Down to Decision Day

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Health Care, Health Care Reform, Medicaid

Conventional wisdom holds that the U. S. Supreme Court is likely to render a decision on the fate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) near the end of its term concluding on June 30th.  Four separate issues are under review: 1. The so-called “individual mandate” that all Americans have health insurance 2. The Medicaid expansion to low-income… Continue Reading

Ohio Makes Medicaid Eligibility Easier for Children and Pregnant Women

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Health Care, Medicaid

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services this week announced an initiative that will have a profound impact on Ohio’s most vulnerable citizens. In collaboration with Ohio Medicaid’s ongoing effort to simplify and streamline the eligibility process for all Medicaid-eligible individuals, the State is implementing presumptive eligibility for certain groups of individuals.  Presumptive eligibility… Continue Reading

Ohio Undertakes Locally Driven Initiatives to Improve Quality, Reduce Cost, and Expand Access to Health Care

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Health Care, Health Care Reform, Medicaid

Ohio’s involvement in local projects focused on improving quality, reducing cost, and expanding access to health care exemplify dynamic partnerships that are fully engaged in the evolving health care environment.  These are some—but certainly not all—of the exciting, locally driven initiatives underway in Ohio: Ohio Children’s Hospitals’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Award The… Continue Reading

Acknowledging Katie Beckett’s Contributions to Medicaid Policy and Disability Rights

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Medicaid, Uncategorized

As a toddler, Katie Beckett changed Medicaid policy.  Sadly, this tireless disabilities rights advocate died last week at the age of 34. Katie was just three years old when she and her mother made national headlines for taking a stand against a federal Medicaid policy that prohibited payment for her respirator unless it was used… Continue Reading

Merger for Ohio Departments of Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Behavioral Health, Medicaid

The Kasich administration announced on Friday that it will merge the Ohio Departments of Mental Health (ODMH) and Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS).  ODMH Director Tracy Plouck will lead the new agency, and ODADAS Director Orman Hall will maintain a cabinet-level position.  Additional information can be found here: Joint letter from ODMH and ODADAS… Continue Reading

Webinar: Important Issues for Psychiatric Hospitals and Other Residential Providers of Behavioral Health Services

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Behavioral Health, Health Care, Health Care Reform, Medicaid

Join Vorys Health Care Advisors for a complimentary webinar. Wednesday, April 25 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. (EDT) The Ohio Office of Health Transformation is working with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ Office of Ohio Health Plans and the Ohio Department of Mental Health to implement several new Medicaid behavioral health policy… Continue Reading

What the Affordable Care Act’s DSH Reductions Really Mean to High-DSH Hospitals

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Health Care Reform, Medicaid

In fiscal year 2009, Ohio hospitals received nearly $408 million in Federal disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments.  One provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)—coupled with Ohio’s methodology for determining how DSH payments are allocated—will reduce important funding for Ohio’s safety net hospitals. In the early 1980s, Federal legislation established a requirement… Continue Reading

Corcoran Quoted in Cincinnati Enquirer Story Regarding Ohio’s Aging Population

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Health Care, Medicaid

Maureen Corcoran is quoted in a March 13th Cincinnati Enquirer story entitled “Ohio getting older.”  The story highlights statistics on the growing number of Ohioans who are reaching the age of 65 and outlines the impact this increasing population will have on both the Ohio Medicaid program and local government services. The story states: “Ohio’s Medicaid… Continue Reading

Vorys Health Care Advisors’ Medicaid Teleseminar a Success

By Daphne Saneholtz on Posted in Health Care, Health Care Reform, Medicaid

Thanks to the many health care professionals and children’s advocates from around Ohio and beyond  who participated in our Medicaid teleseminar last week!  Participants from at least five states, including all regions of Ohio, took part in the learning opportunity.  Our focus on Ohio’s Office of Health Transformation initiatives and other states’ coordinated care delivery… Continue Reading