The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
721 - 740 of 1,886 Results
Missouri is the sixth state to use a ballot initiative to extend Medicaid eligibility. Most of the remaining states that have not expanded Medicaid are Republican-leaning states in the South.
Around the country, Medicaid enrollment is up as people who have lost jobs during the pandemic seek health insurance. Expanding eligibility for Missouri鈥檚 program, which could help thousands of recently unemployed residents, will be on the ballot Tuesday.
Will Lightbourne, the new director of the California Department of Health Care Services, says government must address the racial disparities laid bare by COVID-19 and improve care for the state鈥檚 most vulnerable residents.
During the pandemic, nearly 700,000 additional Texans have lost health insurance. The Lone Star State already had more uninsured people than any other. It has given people with COVID symptoms pause before seeking medical care.
These workers rely on public assistance 鈥 and, sometimes, a side gig to get by.
For the first time since 2017, Medicaid enrollment has begun increasing again, but not by as much as many analysts expected.
State officials had projected that 2 million Californians would join Medi-Cal, the state鈥檚 health insurance program for low-income people, by July because of the economic devastation wrought by COVID-19. Yet enrollment has barely budged, and why is unclear.
Across the country, the recession has cut state revenues at the same time the COVID-19 pandemic has increased costs, forcing state lawmakers into painful decisions about how to balance their budgets. Health care is one of the targets even in the midst of a health care crisis.
On June 30, Oklahomans can vote on expanding the Medicaid program there. But supporters worry that fear of the coronavirus could diminish turnout or voters could be confused by Gov. Kevin Stitt鈥檚 recent change of heart: He now supports Medicaid expansion but not the ballot initiative.
If you鈥檝e been in a crowd 鈥 a protest or rally 鈥 experts have advice for figuring out whether you might have been exposed to the coronavirus, and where and when to get tested for it.
But some of those options, like special enrollment periods, are time-sensitive.
After some protests over the death of George Floyd resulted in violence, online discussions raised concerns that health plans might deny medical coverage. Although plans do sometimes make exclusions for 鈥渋llegal acts鈥 or riots, experts say concerns by people who are protesting Floyd鈥檚 death may be overstated.
Safety-net health care programs that keep low-income Californians out of nursing homes are on the chopping block as Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers attempt to plug a massive budget deficit caused by the COVID-19 emergency.
Congress authorized $100 billion for health care providers to help reimburse them for losses linked to the coronavirus pandemic. But the majority of that funding so far has gone to hospitals, doctors and other facilities that serve Medicare patients. Providers primarily serving low-income Medicaid populations and children have been largely left out.
House Democrats unveiled legislation that would effectively double what the federal government has spent on relief for the COVID-19 pandemic, but Republicans say they want to wait before even talking about another bill. Meanwhile, a key Republican senator called the GOP court case challenging the Affordable Care Act 鈥渇limsy.鈥 Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call and Joanne Kenen of Politico join KHN鈥檚 Julie Rovner to discuss this and more.
California legislators resume their work Monday after more than a month off. While the coronavirus pandemic has shifted the state鈥檚 priorities, many lawmakers say they still intend to push non-COVID health care bills to tax soda, ban vape flavors and more.
Illinois is moving thousands of children into its Medicaid managed-care program. Proponents say the approach can cut costs while increasing access to care. But after a phase-one rollout of the new health plans caused thousands to temporarily lose coverage, some question whether it鈥檚 the right move.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom charged into 2020 with ambitious 鈥 and expensive 鈥 proposals to increase health insurance coverage, reduce homelessness and tackle drug prices. Then came COVID-19.
KHN鈥檚 Julie Rovner discusses the role of the Affordable Care Act in helping to provide coverage to people affected by the virus鈥 economic repercussions.
The coronavirus outbreak has forced millions out of work and the federal-state health program for low-income people could face unprecedented strains as many states don鈥檛 necessarily have the resources or systems in place to meet the demand.
漏 2026 KFF