Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board
Imminent Changes in Medicaid Eligibility for Immigrants
Come October 1, immigrants seeking Medicaid benefits – including lawful immigrants – will face a new array of eligibility criteria and requirements. KFF has presented a broad look at those new criteria, ushered in as a result of last year’s federal budget reconciliation bill – also known as H.R. 1 and the One Big Beautiful Act Bill – and how they are expected to be implemented. The major aspects of the coming changes are (all quoted directly from the KFF review): States must redetermine eligibility for all “potentially affected” existing [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for September 24
Don’t Miss: CMS plans major cuts in Medicare clinical lab payments Administration reconsiders shifting NIH grant decisions to White House All states enroll in CMS model to reduce prices of selected Medicaid-covered drugs The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for September 18-24. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House The White House has issued the executive order “Enhancing Program Integrity and Interagency Coordination in the Administration of the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Program.” The order increases federal [...]
Where Have All the Nursing Home Beds Gone?
Across the country, the supply of nursing homes is dwindling. Nationally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reports 900 fewer certified nursing homes in 2025 than in 2015. Why the decline? The most commonly cited reason is inadequate payments from Medicaid, the leading payer for nursing home care, which generally pays less than the daily cost of care. Another is staffing: nursing home jobs pay poorly and are considered stressful, making it difficult to attract and retain staff. Even the erosion in the number of beds may not completely [...]
CMS Eyes Major Cuts in Medicare Clinical Lab Rates
Medicare payments for clinical laboratory services will soon be coming down. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is working to bring Medicare’s clinical laboratory services rates into line with those paid by commercial insurers. Asserting that Medicare is now paying 16 percent more for clinical lab tests than commercial payers, the agency has posted proposed rates for calendar year 2027 that reflect the beginning of what in some cases will be a multi-year process of aligning public and private lab payments – “aligning” by reducing Medicare payments. Hospital laboratories [...]
Immigrant Families Skipping Health Care for Kids
Immigrant families with children appear to be avoiding seeking health care over concern about their immigration status, according to a new survey of pediatricians. The survey, conducted on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics, found that: Forty percent of pediatricians reported that immigrant families with children are avoiding seeking care for their children because of concern about their immigration status. Thirty-one percent said those same families were avoiding applying for any government programs, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). More [...]