“That sigh of relief you heard Monday was from hospital administrators in nearly two dozen states, including Florida and Texas.”

This is how the Kaiser Health News described the reaction to the Obama administration announcement that the anticipated reduction in special Medicaid payments to hospitals for care of the uninsured will not penalize states that have not expanded their Medicaid eligibility guidelines.

$2 Million Ad Campaign Opens in Colorado and Feds Release 3-page Application

Colorado is the first state to launch a major ad campaign to drive citizens to the state health insurance exchange to purchase insurance. Under the Affordable Care Act, the exchanges must be open for enrollment on October 1, 2013, and for coverage beginning January 1, 2014. This TV ad is airing in Colorado.

Our American health care system and the myriad proposals floating around to increase efficiency, decrease costs and improve outcomes are complicated enough without all the alphabet soup that is too frequently used. ACA, PPACA, MCO, ARNP, ACO, PCP, PMPM …. you have probably seen them all, and many more, if you do much reading in the health policy field.

Yesterday the NY Times published an article about an effort by a hospital outside of Chicago and its associated physicians to reduce hospitalizations, and consequently reduce costs. They have been successful! The NY Times explains how without any policy wonk language.

In a second vote in as many days, the Arkansas House today passed an appropriations bill that provides funding for expanding Medicaid, according to the Arkansas Times. Arkansas is closely watched as the federal government has given approval to the state to expand Medicaid by using funds to purchase private health insurance policies for newly eligible individuals through the health insurance exchange.

Lively debate is underway in several states over whether to take up the Medicaid eligibility expansion to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. The U.S. Supreme Court decision last summer left the decision in the hands of state policymakers, some of whom are wary of taking on what could be a costly long-term commitment if the promise of generous federal matching funds doesn’t hold in years to come.

Below is a rundown of the debate in some state capitols across the nation.

Stateline Midwest ~ March 2013

States in the Midwest appear to be split on whether to expand their Medicaid programs, and a leading national expert says it’s the most consequential decision for policymakers since states were first given the chance to opt into the state-federal partnership 48 years ago.

Yesterday, on the third anniversary of Congress passing the Affordable Care Act, the Idaho Senate approved on a 23-12 vote Governor Otter’s proposal for the state to operate a health insurance exchange rather than default to federal operation of the exchange. Idaho becomes the first state with a Republican governor and legislature to approve such a plan.

After committees in both the House and Senate rejected Gov. Rick Scott’s proposal to expand Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, another plan has emerged to cover one million low-income working adults. Sen. Joe Negron, chair of the Appropriations Committee, has placed his “Healthy Florida” plan on the agenda for Thursday, March 21. SPB 7038 is posted online, with the relevant section beginning at line 1077.