Medicaid news from every state
Medicaid reporting from more than 400 local newsrooms, public radio stations, advocates, attorneys general and state agencies, sorted into one feed per state and updated every four hours.
Medicaid stories from local newsrooms in every state, updated every four hours.
Latest from every state, page 26
- Published Oct 14
- Published Oct 14
- Published Oct 14
- Published Oct 14LA
Ochsner, Louisiana Healthcare Connections Contract Dispute Threatens 70,000 Patients
Ochsner Health and Louisiana Healthcare Connections, a Medicaid managed care plan, remain in unresolved contract negotiations that could end Ochsner's in-network status for the plan after Dec. 1. About 70,000 Louisiana Medicaid patients enrolled in the plan could lose in-network access to Ochsner providers and facilities if no agreement is reached. The dispute follows the pattern of payer-provider standoffs over reimbursement rates and contract terms that can disrupt continuity of care for Medicaid enrollees. If the contract lapses, affected patients would need to switch providers or managed care plans to maintain in-network coverage.
Why it mattersA contract termination would force tens of thousands of Louisiana Medicaid enrollees to find new in-network providers or switch managed care plans, disrupting continuity of care and straining other network providers.
- Published Oct 14WI
Podcast Episode Examines Hospital Finances After Medicaid Cuts
An episode titled "Profits over patients" explores how hospitals generate revenue and who decides which communities receive care, framed against the backdrop of federal Medicaid funding cuts. The program argues that healthcare has become a top issue for voters as a result of these cuts and examines the financial incentives shaping hospital decisions. No specific policy, rule, or legal action is detailed; the episode is a general explainer on hospital economics and community access to care. It does not specify an air date beyond its episode number or outline concrete regulatory changes.
Why it mattersHospital and health system finance leaders should track how public narratives about Medicaid cuts and hospital profit motives could shape political pressure on state funding and reimbursement decisions.
- Published Oct 14
- Published Oct 14
- Published Oct 14NC
John Locke Foundation Disputes Carolina Forward's Health Care Proposals
In the third installment of a series critiquing Carolina Forward's policy agenda, the John Locke Foundation argues the left-leaning group's health care recommendations rely too heavily on expanded government spending and regulation. The commentary challenges Carolina Forward's framing of hospital mergers and rural access gaps, noting the report omits evidence linking merger acceleration to Affordable Care Act incentives. It also criticizes the report's celebration of North Carolina's 2023 Medicaid expansion without addressing cost growth, citing state Medicaid spending up 59 percent in four years and total spending up 93 percent, now consuming 22 percent of the state budget versus 16 percent a decade ago. The piece instead favors eliminating Certificate of Need laws, expanding nurse practitioner scope of practice, and opposing reimbursement parity for telehealth and hospital rate-setting commissions.
Why it mattersState policymakers weighing further Medicaid investment or rural health regulation face a direct ideological challenge to expansion-funded and regulatory approaches from a influential state think tank.
- Published Oct 14
- Published Oct 14
- Published Oct 14DE
Delaware Funds Physician Recruitment in Rural Kent, Sussex Counties
Delaware's Department of Health and Social Services announced funding through the state's Rural Health Transformation Program to recruit and retain physicians serving rural communities in Kent and Sussex counties. The funding supports two initiatives: educational awards for eligible medical students and housing and relocation assistance for physicians who commit to practicing in these underserved areas. The announcement was made Wednesday, though specific award amounts, eligibility criteria, and application timelines were not detailed in the release. The effort aims to address physician shortages that affect access to care for rural residents, including Medicaid beneficiaries in these counties.
Why it mattersState Medicaid agencies and rural providers should watch whether this workforce investment translates into improved physician network adequacy for Medicaid beneficiaries in underserved Delaware counties.
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13RI
Rhode Island, Brown University Launch Medicaid Enrollee Education Effort
Rhode Island Medicaid has partnered with the People, Place, and Health Collective at Brown University's School of Public Health to help residents understand federal changes affecting the Medicaid program. The initiative targets enrollees who may be confused or at risk of losing coverage due to new federal requirements and policy shifts. No specific timeline or funding details were provided in the announcement. The effort reflects a growing trend of states pairing academic and community partners with Medicaid agencies to manage enrollee communication during periods of federal policy change.
Why it mattersClear communication about federal eligibility and coverage changes can reduce improper disenrollment and coverage gaps for Medicaid beneficiaries in Rhode Island.
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13VT
Vermont Nonprofits Form Coalition to Protect SNAP, Medicaid Access
A coalition of Vermont nonprofits is collaborating to help residents keep Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid benefits amid federal funding cuts. The effort targets people at risk of losing coverage or food assistance, aiming to connect them with enrollment help and other support services. No specific state action, waiver, or legislative change is described; the story centers on community organizations coordinating outreach in response to federal policy shifts. Details on funding, timeline, and the specific federal cuts driving the effort are not specified in the source.
Why it mattersVermont Medicaid beneficiaries facing federal eligibility or funding changes may lose coverage without local outreach and enrollment assistance from community organizations.
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13
- Published Oct 13GA
Georgia Agencies Seek $343.7 Million More for Medicaid in FY28
Georgia state agencies submitted budget requests for Amended FY 2027 and FY 2028 under Gov. Brian Kemp's directive to keep spending largely flat. The Department of Community Health requested an additional $152.9 million for AFY 2027 and $343.7 million for FY 2028 for Medicaid and PeachCare based on projected utilization, accounting for the largest share of new agency funding requests. Overall state agency requests rose from $38.5 billion to $38.8 billion in AFY 2027 and $39.6 billion in FY 2028. The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute warns that HB 463, enacted in 2026 to cut income taxes by $6.3 billion once fully phased in, will strain the state's ability to fund Medicaid and other services without new revenue, following $344 million in executive budget cuts Kemp made in May.
Why it mattersState Medicaid agency funding levels and provider rates for FY 2028 will hinge on whether lawmakers can reconcile rising Medicaid utilization costs with revenue losses from the state's new income tax cuts.
- Published Oct 13