For a number of years, Governors and other state policymakers have maintained that Medicare – rather than state Medicaid programs – should play the key role in providing prescription drug coverage to Medicare beneficiaries, including those who also qualify for Medicaid because they are impoverished and/or have extensive health care needs (i.e, the “dual eligibles”). Although the new Medicare prescription drug benefit law shifts drug coverage for dual eligibles from Medicaid to Medicare, it does not provide all of the fiscal relief that states had expected would accompany this shift, nor does it guarantee equivalent coverage to dual eligibles.

This issue brief describes the key provisions of the new law with implications for state Medicaid budgets and dual eligibles, reviews the estimates available at this time on the effect of these provisions on state Medicaid expenditures; and discusses why the fiscal impact of the new law can be expected to vary widely across states.

Issue Paper (.pdf)

This updated policy brief examines federal funding for the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, with a primary emphasis on funding and activities that benefit resource poor countries. United States funding for international HIV/AIDS activities in resource poor countries began in the mid-1980s; and in FY 2003, the U.S. Congress appropriated close to $1.5 billion globally.

Issue Brief (.pdf)

Health care reform and decreasing the number of uninsured have emerged as issues in the presidential campaign, primarily driven by candidates’ proposals to expand health insurance coverage to more Americans. This document summarizes the candidates’ positions on covering the uninsured.

Report (.pdf)

This SCHIP enrollment report finds that overall enrollment growth is slowing and enrollment declined in 13 states. It also found that some states are capping enrollment and a handful of sates are reducing eligibility and benefits under SCHIP.

Report (.pdf)

It’s Your (Sex) Life Call-Back Survey – Toplines

This telephone survey of 500 15-25 year-olds who had recently called a toll-free telephone number advertised in Fight For Your Rights safer sex PSAs on MTV and requested a copy of the free informational It’s Your (Sex) Life guide allowed the Foundation to explore how callers assess the phone service and the guide, as well as the impact the campaign has had on their intentions and reported behaviors.

It’s Your (Sex) Life Call-Back Survey – Toplines

Key Facts: Media Literacy

The seventh in a series of fact sheets on topics related to children, media and health pulls together the most relevant research about parents and the media. This fact sheet, focusing on media literacy, defines media literacy, details its role in education (K-12 and beyond), discusses the latest research findings on the effectiveness of media literacy, and includes resources and tips for parents and educators.

Key Facts: Media Literacy

News on Medicaid and State Budgets – September and October 2003

State Budget News (.pdf)

Additional news on Medicaid and state budgets

This issue brief focuses on one subset of “flexibility” issues: the current federal benefits and cost-sharing rules that apply with respect to acute care.

Issue Paper (.pdf)

Medicaid: Current Benefits and Flexibility

Two issue briefs discuss the minimum requirements for states to receive federal Medicaid matching funds and the options states have under federal law and waivers to tailor their Medicaid programs.

Medicaid as a Health Insurer: Current Benefits and Flexibility

Medicaid as a Long-term Care Program: Current Benefits and Flexibility