ADVANCE Perspective: HIM : Medicaid

(Mis)information Overload

Lisa Algeo — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:27:00 GMT

(Editor's note: The following is a guest blog from Mark McGraw, staffer on ADVANCE for Health Information Executives ) Earlier this week, Bob Mitchell, our managing editor here at ADVANCE , posted a blog chastising the behavior of some overzealous attendees...(read more)

Obama Delivers Medicaid Relief

Cheryl McEvoy — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:38:00 GMT

I suppose it's a sign of the times when I admit that my guitar-playing friends and I made up a song about the financial bailout during a jam session 2 weeks ago. The fact that said jam session was at home and wine was in supply may explain why the creative juices were flowing.

Well, a few days later President Obama signed the stimulus into law, and now states are lining up to get a dose of financial relief. Yesterday, the White House announced that state governments will gain access to the first installment of more than $15 billion in Medicaid assistance, starting tomorrow. President Obama made the announcement during a meeting with U.S. governors.

"That means that by the time most of you get home, money will be waiting to help 20 million vulnerable Americans in your states get health coverage and 49 million Americans keep it," the President said.

The funds couldn't come at a better time; growing unemployment has hit Medicaid budgets hard, shuttering some facilities and forcing even the best hospitals to consider layoffs.

So how big is your state's chunk of the change? You can find out at hhs.gov, where an interactive map lists the amount each state will receive. The good old Keystone state, where our staff is headquartered, will be raking in more than $680 million.

According to reports, a few governors may forgo the funds, arguing that they'd pay for it in the long run by having to raise taxes once the funding runs out. President Obama expressed concern that such arguments might be politically motivated.

On the bright side, collaboration is apparently alive and well, albeit behind closed doors. A New York Times article reports that Sen. Edward Kennedy has been in cahoots with lobbyists representing doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders in the health care industry to address ways to make health coverage more affordable. Yes, much like my fellow bailout crooners--a marketing buff, a nurse and engineer, among others--those involved in Kennedy's meetings come from all walks of life: the American Cancer Society, the American Medical Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to name a few.

According to the article, President Obama knows about the meetings and has been getting updates, so it may only be time until we see some real movement on health care reform. Let's just hope no one hits the brakes.

Rising Unemployment Threatens Medicaid Programs

Cheryl McEvoy — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:29:00 GMT

We all complain about health insurance, but oh how reassuring it is to tote an insurance card in your wallet.

I remember counting the days until my coverage kicked in; after graduating from college, I was promptly dropped from my parents' plan and was flying sans-security until I found employment with health benefits. For 3 months, I prayed I wouldn't catch anything worse than the common cold. I was cautious around stairs because--knowing my clumsy tendencies and poorly timed bouts of bad luck--I was convinced I would fall down and find myself footing the bill for a broken leg.

Somehow, I avoided injury and serious illness until that cheap piece of plastic with oh-so-much value came in the mail.

But I was only one person; I just had to worry about myself. Others aren't so lucky--they have children and spouses who depend on them for the security and support health coverage provides. And with unemployment rates rising, more and more people are struggling to get insured.

According to the New York Times, states are reporting record numbers of Medicaid enrollment-a lagging side effect of recent layoffs-and, quite frankly, state budgets can't afford it. State legislators are calling on the federal government for help, but they'll likely be forced to slash Medicaid costs to find any relief, which means cutting certain types of coverage like vision and dental.

Our health care system is rife with problems and, as the article notes, it's currently trapped in a vicious cycle, where Medicaid enrollment is rising at the same time tax revenue to support the program is plummeting. The proposed economic stimulus plan should provide some relief--at least on the job front if not by directly injecting funds into health care--but the effects won't be immediate.

What are HIM professionals' opinions on Medicaid? Have you seen a rise in Medicaid claims at your facility? Have you heard of any physicians dropping Medicaid patients?