Reforming Medicaid
A federal-state program which provides health coverage to low-income Americans, Medicaid programs across the country are in a period of fundamental and rapid change which will have a long-lasting impact on Medicaid patients and the physicians who care for them. In June 2012 the Supreme Court of the United States issued its landmark decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius which in effect leaves Medicaid expansion as provided in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) optional for the states. The Court left all other Medicaid provisions in the ACA intact, including changes to the way states calculate income to determine eligibility, implementation of Medicaid recovery audit contractors, and increased payment for primary care providers. In addition to ACA implementation, many states are implementing broader delivery system and payment reforms within their Medicaid program. These reforms will make significant changes to the way care is provided by physicians and other health care providers to Medicaid patients.
Your AMA has devoted signification resources to creating a campaign focused on preserving Medicaid budgets. Below is a sampling of the state advocacy tools that exist related to this campaign. Please contact Kim Horvath, JD, Legislative Attorney, with any questions.Campaign resources
Chart:
Governors positions
Issue brief:
Medicaid expansion
Talking points:
Moving forward on Medicaid expansion
Guiding principles:
Innovative Medicaid delivery system and payment models
Issue brief:
Innovative Medicaid delivery system and payment models
Campaign resources
Issue brief:
Medicaid RAC
Medicaid recovery audit contractors summary:
RAC final rule
Medicaid RAC program:
Contacts by state
Talking points:
State advocacy roadmap Medicaid RAC
Campaign resources
Summary of research:
Medicaid physician reimbursement
Talking points:
Medicaid cuts to physician payment
Correspondence:
Letter to National Association of Medicaid Directors
Letter to National Governors Association
Summary of final rule
Medicaid payment increase for primary care physicians
Campaign resources
Model bill:
Voluntary physician participation
Medicaid streamline enrollment
Talking points:
Voluntary physician participation
Dual eligibles are individuals who receive both Medicare and Medicaid coverage. There are currently approximately 9 million dual eligibles across the country.
