Public Health Institute’s Post

Texas is facing a critical public health crisis. Nearly 1.7 million Texans -  mostly children – have lost their #Medicaid health insurance coverage after the pandemic. This “unwinding” process has been the largest state removal in the U.S. and highlights procedural challenges that lead to even eligible Texans losing coverage. This unwinding raises significant concerns about access to affordable health care, particularly for low-income children and their families, disabled individuals, and older Texans. EHF is closely monitoring these developments. We will continue to advocate for policies that ensure continuous and equitable access for all. Affordable and accessible access to health and health care services is foundational for optimal community health outcomes. #txlege #CoverTexasNow https://lnkd.in/gR5RUPp7

Is Long-Term Care Covered Under Medicare or Medicaid? No. Medicare is strictly a health insurance program that covers costs related to illnesses and injuries (and, to some extent, their prevention). Based on a doctor's recommendation, it will help pay for up to 100 days of rehabilitation or skilled nursing care after a significant health issue. But more extended stays, such as a permanent move into a nursing home, are not covered. What about Medicare Advantage? You can check to see if there's a Medicare Advantage plan in your area that offers limited caregiving assistance. You may be able to find one that provides meals or pays for the installation of grab bars. A small number of so-called special needs plans offer some in-home support services. If a Medicare Advantage plan has a five-star rating, you may switch to it outside of the annual enrollment period. What about Medicaid? Medicaid pays for long-term nursing-home care, but only for people with low income and modest savings which can no longer handle basic daily tasks like dressing or feeding themselves. Gleckman says a good rule of thumb is that you likely qualify for Medicaid if you have less than $750 in income per month and less than $2,000 in financial assets (not counting a home).

There’s simply no evidence that 50years spent building vertically and horizontally integrated rationing, segregating and inequitably Taxpayer subsidized mega-profitable health insurance conglomerates has improved medical care access,Outcomes or costs for most Amweicans. More than 250,000 Floridians could be left uninsured after State’s review of Medicaid eligibility #valuebasedhealthcare #valuebasedcare #healthcare https://lnkd.in/e39c3p9F

The ugly side of capitalism has caused hospitals to inflate their prices by keeping them hidden from the public. Creating huge price gaps as a result, while driving the cost of health insurance significantly higher. People are forced to drive to far-off locations in search of affordable health care. Showing just how broken the US healthcare market is. #healthcare #hospitals #healthinsurance #publichealth #publicpolicy #unitedstates https://lnkd.in/g3wzVHHt

"Despite the ever-increasing need for long-term care, the United States has no national program. Instead, it has Medicaid, a patchwork public health insurance program administered at the state level and financed jointly by federal and state governments. When the time comes, Americans and their loved ones are left to slog through the murky Medicaid waters alone, often after the need for care has risen. The resulting hardship is a consequence of the U.S. failure to develop a cohesive, navigable system. Regardless of which model Americans choose, the system should be simpler. A uniform approach to long-term care will make health care more effective. At the very least, Americans should know exactly what they're getting, and no one should be shocked—mentally or financially—when the time comes. Instead, a new U.S. health-care model should prepare people to make informed decisions that consider their risk tolerance.  Monumental change can only come from the federal and state levels, and it's time they work together to make a decision. Whether it is insurance or assistance, Americans deserve a system that is shared and simple to understand." #longtermcare #LTCI #medicaid #medicare #agingpolicy #caregiving Maya Fransz-Myers David Knapp Jinkook Lee

Is Long-Term Care Covered Under Medicare or Medicaid? No. Medicare is strictly a health insurance program that covers costs related to illnesses and injuries (and, to some extent, their prevention). Based on a doctor's recommendation, it will help pay for up to 100 days of rehabilitation or skilled nursing care after a significant health issue. But more extended stays, such as a permanent move into a nursing home, are not covered. What about Medicare Advantage? You can check to see if there's a Medicare Advantage plan in your area that offers limited caregiving assistance. You may be able to find one that provides meals or pays for the installation of grab bars. A small number of so-called special needs plans offer some in-home support services. If a Medicare Advantage plan has a five-star rating, you may switch to it outside of the annual enrollment period. What about Medicaid? Medicaid pays for long-term nursing-home care, but only for people with low income and modest savings which can no longer handle basic daily tasks like dressing or feeding themselves. Gleckman says a good rule of thumb is that you likely qualify for Medicaid if you have less than $750 in income per month and less than $2,000 in financial assets (not counting a home). Reach out to Janis Lakkees in Upland, CA for all your Medicare needs!

We are all disappointed to see the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's decision on this and the impact it will have to not only our patients and families, but to our staff. According to The Texas Tribune: The change would mean a reduction in the number of managed care organizations that administer the state’s Medicaid STAR and Children’s Health Insurance Program, a shift toward for-profit companies in most areas of the state, a smaller number of top-rated plans administering care, and the introduction of new national plans to regions historically served by local MCOs.

Interesting Miami Herald article regarding recently passed legislation in Florida to improve access to health practitioners yet still not resolving the health insurance coverage gap amongst the present population of Florida's uninsured; "While the Live Healthy package aims to modernize Florida’s understaffed and overburdened healthcare system, it does little for the uninsured. Live Healthy expands access to free and low-cost primary healthcare and testing clinics, (but) it leaves those in the coverage gap without treatment options if they find they have something, like cancer, at one of those clinics. (Presently), Florida is one of just 10 states where income restrictions leave a combined 1.5 million people – 19% of them in Florida – ineligible for both Medicaid and Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies that would enable them to afford health insurance on their own. They make less than the federal poverty level, but not so little that they are eligible for Medicaid in Florida without expansion."; https://lnkd.in/eBUGryEn

Very concerning and inconveniencing for the medically fragile population currently serviced by TCHP.