medicaid

12-07-2018 | Audit (A-05-17-00013) | Complete Report | Report in Brief In a previous review, OIG determined that CMS had recovered the majority of Medicaid overpayments that we had identified in audit reports issued during Federal fiscal years (FYs) 2000 … Read More

For our audit period (January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2017), Medicare should not have paid suppliers for any of the $34 million for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) that were provided during inpatient stays. In addition, … Read More

This fall edition of the Semiannual Report to Congress covers OIG activities from April 2018 through September 2018. Historically, about 80 percent of OIG’s resources are directed to work related to Medicare and Medicaid. This is mirrored in the organization … Read More

AUSTIN — Texas spent less money this year to help fewer babies and toddlers struggling with autism, speech delays, Down syndrome or other disabilities than it did six years ago despite estimates that more children are in need, according to … Read More

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has labored zealously to cut federal regulations, but its latest move has still astonished some experts on health care: It has asked for recommendations to relax rules that prohibit kickbacks and other payments intended to … Read More

Medicaid — which has been a political football between Washington and state capitols during the past decade — scored big in Tuesday’s election. Following the vote, nearly 500,000 uninsured adults in five states are poised to gain Medicaid coverage under … Read More

Although health coverage was a top voter priority, in the end Texans mostly opted for the status quo. In other words: Don’t go looking for governmental change in health care anytime soon in the Lone Star State. Republican incumbents Gov. … Read More

Catarina Martinez took 26 steps this week. After years of struggling with an undiagnosed medical condition, the 17-year-old girl who goes by “Catie” is starting to inch toward recovery. Her story was shared at a 20th anniversary celebration Oct. 25 … Read More

Voters in three traditionally Republican states supported ballot measures to extend Medicaid benefits to more low-income adults. The results highlight the divide between voters, even in conservative states, who generally support providing health benefits to the poor, and conservative politicians … Read More

September 12, 2018 – 10:00am Health and Human Services Commission Brown-Heatly Building Public Hearing Room 4900 North Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78751 This meeting will be webcast. To access the webcast, go to https://hhs.texas.gov/about-hhs/communications-events/live-archived-meetings the day and time of the … Read More

TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Gov. Jeff Colyer are touting a federal court ruling handed down Tuesday that says the federal government must repay hundreds of millions of dollars to six states – including $142 million to … Read More

Texas children are being left behind without access to healthcare, partly as a result of action taken by former Gov. Rick Perry to cut the expansion of Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. According to a … Read More

Advocacy groups on Tuesday sued the Trump administration, arguing it acted outside the scope of its authority when it approved work requirements in Arkansas’ Medicaid program. The National Health Law Program, Legal Aid of Arkansas and the Southern Poverty Law … Read More

Medicaid is now paying Iowa dentists a mere $27 to clean patients’ teeth, according to the executive director of the Iowa Dental Association. That pathetically low reimbursement — likely less than the cost of an oil change or decent lawn … Read More

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) isn’t doing enough to prevent payment risks in Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs), according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). According to the report (PDF), CMS hasn’t initiated … Read More

Newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries may face a confusing process as they begin their quests to enroll. Navigating the parts, costs and coverage options can overwhelm even the savviest beneficiaries. Below, we answer seven major questions about Medicare and its coverage. … Read More

AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – The Supreme Court of Texas denied a petition for writ of mandamus relief in an appeal involving Xerox Corp. and Xerox State Healthcare and allegations of Medicaid fraud. Justice Eva Guzman authored the June 22 … Read More

In my time as a media professional in the dental industry, I have read a lot of dentist-authored articles about the difficulties of participating in government-managed programs such as Medicaid and CHIP. It’s clear that is a frustrating experience for … Read More

Data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Tuesday reveals the scale of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollment in the United States. In 2017, 46.3 million children in the United States were enrolled at one … Read More

During last year’s fight against efforts in Washington to repeal the Affordable Care Act, poll after poll showed most Americans opposed Medicaid cuts that would turn back the clock on decades of civil rights progress for people with disabilities. Disability … Read More

For now, congressional Republicans appear to have set aside efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Yet, it’s increasingly clear that the Trump administration is doubling down on its attempts to seriously weaken the ACA’s Medicaid expansion by making … Read More

A year-long investigation by the website MedPage Today and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel into how well states police physicians is out, and Alaska didn’t score well. “States of Disgrace: A Flawed System Fails to Inform the Public” is the title … Read More

AUSTIN — Health care providers in Texas are getting a $25 billion shot in the arm with the five-year extension of a Medicaid program by the federal government. Source: Feds grant Texas extension of Medicaid waiver / The Banner-Press

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — Devon Rising shakes his head and tries to cover his face with his hands. It’s time to get his few remaining teeth cleaned, and he fusses for a bit. Gita Aminloo, his dental hygienist, tries to … Read More

COLUMBUS — Compliance examinations to verify whether Medicaid providers have sufficient documentation to support payment have led to repayment demands totaling nearly $10.6 million in 2017, Auditor of State Dave Yost announced recently. Since taking office, Yost’s Medicaid team has … Read More

AUSTIN – As lawmakers on Capitol Hill continue to discuss the future of the CHIP program, Texas is set to receive $135 million from the federal government to keep benefits in place thru February. CHIP, which stands for Children’s Health Insurance Program, … Read More

Federal taxpayers may have forfeited at least $1 billion because a slate of drugs were misclassified under Medicaid’s rebate program, the Health and Human Services’ chief watchdog said Wednesday. HHS’ inspector general said the vast majority of the tens of … Read More

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s administration is asking for $90 million more in federal funding in hopes of delaying health insurance cancellations for nearly half a million children. Texas will end its Children’s Health Insurance Program on … Read More

If Congress doesn’t reauthorize funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) soon, it’s not just Texas children who could lose access to health insurance; thousands of pregnant women could lose coverage, too. Texas doesn’t run the program without federal … Read More

If there is one thing I have learned most certainly in my career working to raise quality and lower cost of health care, it is that people don’t stop getting sick or injured just because they don’t have insurance. For … Read More

Hurricane Harvey has left our Houston and Texas communities with significant recovery and restoration needs. As attorneys, we struggle with how we can be most helpful. It is in this spirit, that we have compiled this Special Alert to help … Read More

HOUSTON – Texas officials are asking health insurance companies to be flexible in helping people affected by the floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey. Many of the thousands who fled their homes during the storm may no longer have access to prescription … Read More

Few places need the federal government right now more than Texas does, as it begins to recover from Hurricane Harvey. Yet there are few states where the federal government is viewed with more resentment, suspicion and scorn. For Republicans, who … Read More

Hurricane Harvey’s impact on Texas may spur the state to pursue Medicaid expansion as a way to receive public funding in the storm’s aftermath, some observers say. Sarah Rosenbaum, a health policy professor at the George Washington University, told Bloomberg … Read More

HHS issued a limited waiver of HIPAA sanctions and penalties during Hurricane Harvey, which HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, declared a public health emergency in Texas Aug. 26 and Louisiana Aug. 28. The HIPAA Privacy Rule cannot be suspended during … Read More

Several ambulance services from across Texas are working to stave off a potential 10 percent cut to their Medicaid reimbursements. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is planning to cut the amounts ambulance services can bill the government for … Read More

Texas, which has owned the distinction of having the largest uninsured population in the country, has earned another dubious honor. It’s now considered among the worst states in the country for health care. New analysis of the Best & Worst … Read More

WASHINGTON – With the Republican-led Senate having failed to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act, Democrats are pressing Gov. Greg Abbott to reconsider his decision not to expand Texas’ Medicaid program. In a statement following a letter to the governor … Read More

For years, Iowa dentists have complained about the low rate of payment they receive from the Medicaid program. When treating a Medicaid patient, dentists can typically expect to collect just 30 percent of what they’d normally receive for providing the … Read More

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – A man is behind bars in Virginia Beach, accused of doing illegal dental procedures in Virginia Beach. Prosecutors say 54-year-old Carlos Vargas has been on the run for the last two years. He was wanted … Read More