Recent Trends in Children’s Poverty and Health Insurance as Pandemic-Era Programs Expire January 16, 2024 Issue Brief This policy watch examines recent trends in children’s poverty rates and the impact of expiring federal aid, explores recent changes in Medicaid coverage for children, and discusses what to watch as families contend with these compounding changes.
The President’s Malaria Initiative and Other U.S. Government Global Malaria Efforts December 20, 2023 Fact Sheet This fact sheet provides a snapshot of global malaria efforts and examines the U.S. government’s role in addressing malaria worldwide, including current programs, funding, and key issues.
Recent Changes to Medicare Coverage of Dental Services from the 2023 and 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rules December 1, 2023 Issue Brief This brief describes current law related to coverage and payment for dental services under Medicare and the rationale for changes to current policy, explains changes to dental payment and coverage included in the 2023 and 2024 final rules, and discusses the impact on Medicare and beneficiaries. These rules modestly expand the types of dental services that are covered under Medicare, but do not represent a broad expansion of Medicare coverage of dental services and will not substantially increase Medicare spending or covered dental services for a large number of Medicare beneficiaries.
Medicaid Enrollment and Spending Growth Amid the Unwinding of the Continuous Enrollment Provision: FY 2023 & 2024 November 14, 2023 Issue Brief This issue brief analyzes Medicaid enrollment and spending trends for FY 2023 and FY 2024, based on data provided by state Medicaid directors as part of the 23rd annual survey of Medicaid directors in states and the District of Columbia.
The U.S. Government and Global Health Security July 25, 2023 Issue Brief This brief examines the U.S. government’s efforts in global health security—that is, activities to help countries prepare for and develop capacities to address epidemic and pandemic diseases. It provides history and background, outlines the U.S. agencies carrying out these efforts, describes funding, and highlights key policy issues going forward.
Hospital Charity Care: How It Works and Why It Matters November 3, 2022 Issue Brief This issue brief examines the role that hospital charity care programs play in helping patients who are unable to afford their care. It describes how hospital charity care programs work, the amount of charity care that hospitals provide, relevant federal and state regulation, the role of Medicare and Medicaid in helping hospitals afford charity care expenses, and policy proposals related to charity care programs.
Medicaid Enrollment & Spending Growth: FY 2022 & 2023 October 25, 2022 Issue Brief This issue brief provides an overview of Medicaid spending and enrollment growth with a focus on state fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Findings are based on data provided by state Medicaid directors as part of the 22nd annual survey of Medicaid directors in states and the District of Columbia conducted by KFF and Health Management Associates (HMA). Findings examine changes in overall enrollment and spending growth.
After Roe: Options to Address Medicaid Coverage Policy Related to Maternal and Child Health July 15, 2022 Blog This policy watch examines the intersection of Medicaid coverage policies with state actions to ban abortion.
Medicaid Enrollment Patterns During the Postpartum Year July 14, 2022 Issue Brief A provision in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 gives states a new option to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months via a state plan amendment. This new option took effect on April 1, 2022 and is available to states for five years. Using Medicaid claims data from 2018, this brief examines enrollment patterns in the year following childbirth.
May 23 Web Event: Executive Actions to Address Prescription Drug Affordability in the U.S. May 23, 2022 Event U.S. prescription drug spending per person is about double what it is in peer countries and about 8 in 10 U.S. adults say the cost of prescription drugs is unreasonable. With the public ranking lowering out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs the top health care priority for Congress, lawmakers have been…