Medicaid - Medicaid Proof-of-Citizenship Rules Lead to Enrollment Decline Among U.S. Residents, Not Undocumented Immigrants New Medicaid proof-of-citizenship rules have reduced the number of beneficiaries in many states, although most of those dropped from the rolls were eligible for the program but could not provide adequate documentation, according to a Government Accountability Office report released on Monday, CQ HealthBeat r www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=46474

2007-07-25

Capitol Hill Watch - SCHIP Bill Passes Senate Finance Committee By a 12-7 vote, the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday approved SCHIP reauthorization and expansion legislation that could add four million children to the program, the AP/Boston Globe reports (AP/Boston Globe, 1/16). The bill, introduced by committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.), would expand the program by www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=56504

2009-01-16

Capitol Hill Watch - Senate Approves Prescription Drug User Fee Act Reauthorization Bill That Includes Post-Market Safety Provisions The Senate on Wednesday voted 93-1 to approve a bill (S 1082) that would reauthorize the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, which will expire on Sept. 30, the Wall Street Journal reports (Wilde Mathews, Wall Street Journal, 5/10). The legislation, which the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=44828

2007-05-10

Politics and Policy - Bush in State of the Union Address Urges Congress To Reauthorize Ryan White CARE Act, Pledges To Fight AIDS Among Blacks President Bush during the State of the Union address on Wednesday 'surprised many in Congress' by outlining an agenda aimed at U.S. inner cities, including a pledge to fight the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African-American community, the San Francisco Chronicle reports (Coile, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=27941

2005-02-03

State Watch - Illinois Governor Proposes Health Coverage Expansion Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) on Sunday unveiled a plan to expand access to health insurance to the 1.4 million uninsured state residents at an estimated cost of $2.1 billion per year, the Chicago Tribune reports (Graham, Chicago Tribune, 3/4). Blagojevich's plan, called Illinois Covered, is based in par www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=43390

2007-03-06

Health Care Marketplace - Federal, State Authorities Raid Health Insurer WellCare; Target Unknown Federal and state authorities on Wednesday raided the headquarters of Tampa, Fla.-based health insurer WellCare, which provides Medicare and Medicaid managed care plans and has 2.3 million members nationwide, the Miami Herald reports. No information on the purpose of the investigation has been disclosed (Sta www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=48444

2007-10-25

Administration News - Health Industry Groups Pledge To Reduce Spending; Some Health Advocates Express Skepticism About Plan As President Obama on Monday met with health care industry groups regarding their pledge to reduce $2 trillion in expected health care spending increases over the next 10 years, many health care advocates expressed skepticism about the promise, the Hartford Courant reports (Levick, Hartford Courant, 5/12). T www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=58419

2009-05-12

State Watch - California Gov. Schwarzenegger Threatens To Veto Democrats' Health Care Legislation California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Wednesday said he will veto a health care bill by Democratic lawmakers if it relies solely on employer contributions for funding, the Sacramento Bee reports. The Democrats' bill would require employers to spend at least 7.5% of payroll on employee benefits (Yamamu www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=47107

2007-08-24

Medicare - Seven Health Insurers Agree To Suspend Marketing for Private Medicare Fee-for-Service Plans After CMS Questions Sales Tactics Seven of the largest health insurers offering private fee-for-service Medicare Advantage plans have entered into a voluntary agreement to suspend marketing of the plans amid allegations of illegal and aggressive sales practices, CMS officials announced on Friday, the AP/Wall Street Journal reports (AP/Wall S www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=45638

2007-06-18

Capitol Hill Watch - Congress Overrides Veto of Medicare Bill To Delay Physician Payment Cut A 10.6% reduction to Medicare physician fees will be delayed for 18 months because legislation (HR 6331) became law on Tuesday after both chambers of Congress voted to override President Bush's veto of the bill earlier in the day, the Wall Street Journal reports (Wilde Mathews, Wall Street Journal, 7/16). Th www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=53325

2008-07-16