Medicaid is the largest health coverage source in the United States, covering approximately 70 million individuals including children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, elderly adults, and in states that have expanded their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act, low-income
On October 2, 2020, Secretary Azar of the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) renewed his public health emergency (“PHE”) declaration because of “the continued consequences” of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This renewal will become effective on October 23, 2020
In a State Medicaid Director Letter issued on January 30, 2020, CMS released its long anticipated guidance to states on implementing block grants as a mechanism of Medicaid financing. State Medicaid Director Letter 20-001 announced the “Healthy Adult Opportunity” initiative
On Thursday, December 12, 2019, the Trump administration announced its approval of South Carolina’s request to condition Medicaid eligibility on work or community engagement activities. In a joint statement released on Thursday by CMS Administrator Seema Verma and South Carolina
“We’ve all seen this movie before” – Judge James Boasberg, Philbrick v. Azar
On July 29 HHS approval of work and community engagement requirements as a condition of eligibility for Medicaid was again found to be arbitrary and capricious. This time Judge James Boasberg ruled that New Hampshire’s efforts to impose work requirements as a condition of Medicaid eligibility should be halted and vacated the Secretary’s approval. Judge Boasberg issued similar rulings earlier this year regarding the Arkansas (Gresham v. Azar) and Kentucky (Stewart v. Azar) attempts to impose work requirements. A Health Law Pulse summary may be found here.
“As Opening Day arrives, the Court finds its guiding principle in Yogi Berra’s aphorism, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”” – Judge James Boasberg, Gresham v. Azar.
On March 27, United States District Court for the District of
The Trump Administration took several steps this past week in support of its efforts to transform the Medicaid program.
On November 20, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) again approved the Kentucky HEALTH 1115 demonstration. Kentucky HEALTH was the first Section 1115 demonstration that CMS approved with a work and community engagement requirement as a condition