1. Alaska governor proposes $249M Medicaid cut
Alaska Gov. Michael Dunleavy has proposed cutting Medicaid by $249 million to reduce state spending on government. Details about potential state changes to Medicaid are unknown at this time, but providers and patient advocates have expressed concerns about the proposed cuts and the effects they could have on jobs and residents’ health, the report states.
2. Sentara, Optima donate $5.5M for Medicaid expansion
Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Healthcare and its insurance plan Optima Health gave $5.5 million to four nonprofit organizations to support needs related to Virginia’s recent Medicaid expansion.
3. Wyoming’s Medicaid work requirement moves forward
Wyoming’s House of Representatives narrowly passed a bill aimed at implementing work requirements for Medicaid recipients.
4. Massachusetts physician to pay $680K to resolve false billing claims
Massachusetts geriatric medicine physician Hooshang Poor, MD, agreed to pay $680,000 to resolve allegations that he submitted inflated claims to Medicare and the Massachusetts Medicaid program.
5. Nonprofit hospital CEOs back Georgia’s controversial Medicaid bill
Nonprofit hospitals are throwing their support behind a bill that would partially expand Medicaid in Georgia.
6. Kentucky PBMs took $123.5M in hidden fees, report claims
In 2018, pharmacy benefit managers for Kentucky’s Medicaid program used a common pricing tactic to reap $123.5 million in hidden fees.
More articles on payers:
BCBS of Michigan accused of charging hidden fees
UnityPoint back in network with Humana, Molina
Anthem study: Employers are increasingly bundling health benefits
