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They harvest the nation’s food, but a new rule may strip them of health insurance
Paula Andalo, KFF Health News, July 10
Farmworkers who rely on Medicaid face inconsistent employment patterns that could put them at risk of losing their health coverage. Advocates say Medicaid-eligible farmworkers meet the new work requirement of 80 hours a month during harvest season but can work fewer hours other months. Outside of harvest season, many take on informal jobs in construction or landscaping for which they don’t receive formal paychecks. “Having a work requirement — having to create more paperwork and more proof — is certainly extremely challenging for farmworkers and others who are low-income and who may especially have seasonal jobs, not year-round, and do have periods” when there is no work available, said Alexis Guild, vice president of strategy and programs at Farmworker Justice.
Medicaid meal deliveries reduce hospital visits and costs
Anna Claire Vollers, Stateline, July 8
About a dozen states offer “medically tailored meals” to people with conditions such as diabetes and heart disease who get their insurance through Medicaid. The fully prepared, home-delivered meals are customized by a registered dietitian. Massachusetts was the first to offer the program, and a new study found that it has significantly improved the health of the people who participate. Researchers found that Medicaid enrollees in Massachusetts who received medically tailored meals had 31% fewer hospitalizations and 20% fewer emergency department visits.
Medicaid ban on routine care at Planned Parenthood ends
Jennifer Porter Gore, Word in Black, July 10
Health care providers such as Planned Parenthood and similar clinics are once again eligible to receive Medicaid reimbursements. A previous ban expired this month, enabling low-income individuals to resume routine health care services from these providers. Medicaid can cover non-abortion services such as cancer screenings and birth control distribution. However, it is up to individual states to decide whether clinics can be reimbursed. The now-expired ban forced Planned Parenthood to close nearly 30 of its health centers since last July. Most were in rural areas or areas already facing shortages of health care providers.
OB-GYN pay overhaul spells changes for maternal care
Maya Goldman, Axios, July 13
A major change to how OB-GYNs are paid could help improve maternal health outcomes. Starting Jan.1, OB-GYNs will be able to bill insurers for each individual service they provide to patients, instead of a lump-sum “bundled payment.” OB-GYNs say the bundled payment method doesn’t reflect the complexity of modern obstetric care, and the new method will make it easier for doctors to tailor care to patient needs — and get paid for doing so. While the change could drive up costs, advocates say it could also pay dividends by preventing emergencies down the line.
Cancer disparities researchers say federal funding changes have disrupted their work
Joseph Kim, NPR, July 15
Federal policy changes have affected cancer disparity researchers who study why some people are more likely to get cancer and to die from it than others. These researchers have contributed to reductions in many disparities, but a new report found that 78% of surveyed researchers have been unable to apply for funding and 59% have had their ongoing projects disrupted. Some researchers are worried that as these slowdowns hinder their ability to do their work, it will translate to poorer patient outcomes.