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Medicaid spending on home and community-based service (HCBS) waivers dominates spending on community-based long-term care services offered through the Medicaid program. This paper examines trends in HCBS waiver enrollment and spending in recent years. Report (.pdf)
In 2002, the state of Washington eliminated state-funded Medicaid look-alike coverage for certain immigrant families. These families then became eligible for more limited coverage in the state's Basic Health program. This report details the process of this transition and the outcomes for coverage and access for these individuals. Report (.pdf)
Medicaid and State-Funded Coverage for Adults: Estimates of Eligibility and Enrollment Lack of health insurance coverage for low-income adults remains a pressing policy challenge. In 2002, low-income adults who were uninsured accounted for nearly half of the uninsured population. This report provides an overview of nonelderly adult eligibility for and enrollment in Medicaid and state-funded coverage, nationally and in 13 study states. Executive Summary (.pdf) Full Report (.pdf) Appendix (.pdf)
Preparing for the Medicare Drug Discount Card Rollout A Conference Call Discussion With Medicare beneficiaries eligible to subscribe to a discount drug card as of May 3 and use them as of June 1, there is little time to clear up any confusion or answer outstanding questions about the program. Dozens of private companies are sponsoring national or regional cards, including some Medicare managed care plans. Enrollment fees could be as high as $30 per…
Challenges and Tradeoffs in Low-Income Family Budgets: Implications for Health Coverage - Report This report explores the experiences of families trying to make ends meet on limited budgets. By discussing these families’ work, spending patterns, financial challenges, priorities and tradeoffs and health care and coverage, this report intends to provide a deeper understanding of families’ financial pressures and choices and information to assess the impact of current and proposed policies. Report (.pdf)
Striving to Make Ends Meet: Low-Income Families’ Finances and Health Coverage The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured released new reports and held a policy briefing on the challenges and tradeoffs low-income families face when dealing with their budgets and the implications for health coverage. Challenges and Tradeoffs in Low-Income Family Budgets: Implications for Health CoverageFaces of Medicaid Webcast of April 20, 2004 Policy Briefing
- Issue Paper This Issue Paper describes the discount card and low-income assistance programs and discusses their implications for low-income Medicare beneficiaries and state Medicaid programs. Issue Paper (.pdf)
Financing the Medicaid Program: The Impact of Federal Fiscal Relief, April 2004 This fact sheet summarizes why federal fiscal relief to states was granted in 2003, including additional money for Medicaid; the impact of the relief in easing state budgetary pressure; and what may occur in the states after the fiscal relief expires in June 2004. Fact Sheet (.pdf)
Medicaid is financed jointly by the federal government and states. This shared financing has produced tension at times over the appropriate share of the cost of the program. This report explains briefly the mechanisms used by states in recent years to finance their share of Medicaid expenditures. Issue Brief (.pdf)
On April 19, 2004 the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured held a Washington policy briefing on the basics of Medicaid financing. A webcast and transcript of the briefing are available. Presentation Slides (.pdf) The publications below provide background information on Medicaid financing and the latest on Medicaid waiver activity. Reports related to Medicaid Financing and State Budgets Financing the Medicaid Program: The Many Roles of State and Federal Matching Funds Current Issues in…
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