Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Nonprofit Groups Object To Ky. Plan To Require Service By Medicaid Enrollees
Gov. Matt Bevin wants able-bodied adults to volunteer in their communities in exchange for their Medicaid benefits. But an organization representing nearly 600 of the state’s nonprofit groups says its members aren’t ready to welcome an influx of tens of thousands of people who would need training, supervision and — in some instances —criminal-background checks. ... [State officials seeking to revise Kentucky's Medicaid expansion program are preparing a] waiver application that would tighten eligibility standards for the 1.4 million Kentuckians who get health insurance through the program. The waiver application is being revised this month following much public comment, most of it critical. (Cheves, 8/17)
Politicians, clergy and academics who favor Medicaid expansion made their pitch Wednesday on the steps of City Hall, this time with a new report to back them up. Tampa Bay and the rest of Florida, they said, would be in much better health if the Legislature would change course and expand Medicaid to cover more residents. Expansion also could boost the area's fortunes, according to the report, sponsored by Florida CHAIN, a pro-expansion nonprofit. (Suntrup, 8/17)
Consumer advocacy group Florida CHAIN released a new [report] Wednesday that once again calls for the expansion of Medicaid in the state. But Florida House lawmakers have shut down expansion in Florida each year since 2010. Advocates say Medicaid expansion would cover up to 800,000 Floridians without insurance. Mark Pafford, a former Democratic lawmaker who now leads Florida CHAIN, said if the group continues to push for expansion, it'll eventually happen. (Miller, 8/17)
A group of lawmakers and health care officials working on a health care expansion plan gathered in Nashville once again on Wednesday, this time to further delve into the details of a proposal that will need approval from the federal and state government. During a meeting at Vanderbilt University, four lawmakers serving on the 3-Star Healthy Task Force met with TennCare chief Dr. Wendy Long and Melinda Buntin, chair of the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University's School of Medicine. (Ebert, 8/17)
