While the debate over student loan debt forgiveness grabs headlines, another kind of debt is also receiving some attention from policymakers, credit rating agencies, and the healthcare industry: medical debt. In his latest column for Talk Business & Politics, ACHI Health Policy Director Craig Wilson discusses efforts at the state and federal levels to address Americans’ largest source of debt in collections. Read More
On Monday (April 18), the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to reschedule oral arguments in cases involving Medicaid work and community engagement requirements (WCER) in Arkansas and New Hampshire, ruling that the cases are now moot. In its order, the court also granted a motion to vacate a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and instructed the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to dismiss the cases as no longer in controversy. Read More
Even when the United States is not experiencing a public health emergency, Medicaid is a critical part of the nation’s healthcare safety net. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program have been the source of coverage for more than one in three Arkansans. Read More
In recent media interviews, ACHI Director of Analytics Mike Motley discussed a new report by ACHI showing that during the 2020-21 school year more than one in four (26%) public school-age children had a BMI measurement classified as obese, up from 23% the previous year. This is the highest obesity rate and the highest single-year increase in the obesity rate since data collection began in 2003. Read More
Several Medicare rule changes that were aimed at expanding telehealth access during the COVID-19 public health emergency will continue for at least five months beyond the end of the emergency under key provisions Congress included in the recently enacted Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. The public health emergency is currently set to expire April 22, barring extensions. Read More
Arkansas Medicaid officials will soon be faced with one of the largest administrative tasks in the program’s history – redetermining the eligibility of thousands of beneficiaries after years-long delays due to COVID-19. Read More
