The state’s Medicaid program is cutting payment rates for doctors who provide pregnancy care, perform deliveries and women’s preventive services, leading medical groups and advocates to worry that it could become harder for low-income pregnant women to find doctors to treat them.
Medicaid
Posted inMoney
Lembo: Time to fix worsening state budget deficit is now
State Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo agreed Wednesday with nonpartisan analysts that the budget deficit is worse than Gov. Dannel P. Malloy administration is projecting. But while Lembo also urged the governor and legislature “proceed without delay” to reduce the shortfall, his $172.8 million deficit forecast falls just short of the level that would compel the governor to prepare a deficit-mitigation plan.
Posted inHealth, Money
Medicaid rules prompt a $45 million state-federal disagreement
A $45 million hole in this year’s budget is the result of a disagreement between state and federal officials over how much the federal government should reimburse Connecticut for Medicaid spending for clients who became eligible under Obamacare.
Posted inHealth, Politics
With protest, legislators move forward governor’s human services budget cuts
The legislature’s human services committee voted to move forward Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposed social services budget, but not before disowning the cuts within it and debating whether the way they handled the measure was a sufficient protest.
Posted inHealth
Providers, advocates call Malloy Medicaid cuts short-sighted
Critics say Malloy’s proposal to cut Medicaid is financially short-sighted and threatens to undermine recent progress in a program that has added thousands of new members as part of the federal health law, expanded the network of providers willing to treat them, and reduced its per-client costs.
Posted inHealth
Medicaid clients, seniors, health care providers face cuts under governor’s plan
About 34,000 parents would lose Medicaid coverage. Seniors would have to pay more for home care. The state would abandon a plan to better coordinate care for the costliest Medicaid clients and most health care providers that treat Medicaid patients would face a pay cut. It is all part of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s aim to save hundreds of millions of dollars through cuts to health care and social service programs.
Posted inMoney, Politics
The Malloy solution: Deep cuts, new tax revenue, deferred promises
The biennial budget Gov. Dannel P. Malloy intends to propose today would erase a two-year, $2.5 billion shortfall with $1.6 billion in spending cuts and $900 million in additional revenue, an attempt to say he is equitably spreading pain while keeping a pledge not to raise taxes. Malloy, a Democrat re-elected last fall, is proposing a three-pronged approach to his second fiscal crisis in four years: deep spending cuts, combined with additional revenue raised by deferring promised tax cuts and boosting tax receipts without changing rates.
Posted inHealth
6 health care things to watch for in Malloy’s budget proposal
Many people who work in or advocate for health care and social services are bracing for a tough year, even as some make pitches for increased funding. Here are six things to watch for.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Preserve Connecticut’s Medicaid funding
As the countdown begins to the Feb. 18 release of the state budget by Gov. Dannel Malloy, the health and well-being of our Medicaid patients and the future sustainability of the Medicaid program lie in the balance.
Posted inHealth
5 things to know about Medicaid spending in CT
There are many reasons why everyone in Connecticut should care about Medicaid, the health care program that covers one in five state residents and represents one of the largest chunks of state spending. Here are five things to know.
Posted inHealth
Advocates: Medicaid’s autism coverage plan would keep kids from services
Advocates say the state’s proposed regulations for autism treatment coverage contain so many potential barriers that many children would be unlikely to get services, face major delays in treatment or struggle to find a provider who could meet the requirements.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
Insurers’ financial health improves post-Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON — As House Republicans once again voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act this week, there was further evidence the controversial bill is contributing to the good health of some of the nation’s major health insurers.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Murphy blasts GOP alternative to Affordable Care Act
Washington – As the Senate’s chief defender of the Affordable Care Act, Sen. Chris Murphy took a sledgehammer to a GOP alternative Thursday. “It would mean the retraction of health care for millions of Americans, “ he said.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
Children’s Hospital gets $10M extra from CT, raising eyebrows
A new $10 million grant for the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, approved Thursday – without going through the legislature and despite a state budget deficit – sparked new questions about its legality and fairness.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Lembo reports CT budget deficit shrinks to $32M
The state budget deficit shrank modestly over the past month to $32 million, Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo reported Friday. But the state’s chief fiscal watchdog also noted that the deficit would have been larger were the budget not bolstered somewhat by borrowing that has become increasingly controversial in recent years.