Expansion of Medicaid cut mortality rates 6% but -- 13 states will cut medicaid. [View all]

[HiPointDem]

State expansions of the Medicaid health insurance program for poor Americans reduced adult mortality rates by more than 6 percent compared with states that did not broaden eligibility for their plans, according to a study released on Wednesday...

Medicaid expansions were associated with a reduction in mortality from all causes, by 19.6 deaths per 100,000 adults, for a 6.1 percent decrease compared to the states without expansions.
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The mortality declines were greatest among adults between ages 35 and 64, minorities and residents of poor counties.

The expansions also led to decreased rates of uninsurance, lower rates of delayed care because of costs, and an increase in the rate of people reporting their health status as "excellent" or "very good".

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48326394/ns/health-health_care/#.UBZdOKDVa9s

13 states aim to limit Medicaid

Thirteen states are moving to cut Medicaid by reducing benefits, paying health providers less or tightening eligibility, even as the federal government prepares to expand the insurance program for the poor to to as many as 17 million more people.

States routinely trim the program as tough times drive up enrollment and costs. But the latest reductions — which follow more extensive cuts last year — threaten to limit access to care for some of its 60 million recipients.

•Illinois limited enrollees to four prescriptions a month; imposed a co-pay for prescriptions for non-pregnant adults; raised eligibility to eliminate more than 25,000 adults; and eliminated non-emergency dental care for adults.

•Alabama cut pay for doctors and dentists 10% and eliminated coverage for eyeglasses.

•Florida cut funding to hospitals that treat Medicaid patients by 5.6% — following a 12.5% cut a year ago. The state also seeks to limit non-pregnant adults to two primary-care visits a month, and to cap emergency room coverage at six visits a year.

•California added a $15 fee for those who go to the emergency room for routine care. It cut reimbursements to private hospitals by $150 million and to public hospitals by $41.5 million.

•Wisconsin added or raised monthly premiums for most non-pregnant adults with incomes above $14,856 for an individual.

Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire and South Dakota also are making reductions to their programs. Connecticut is weighing cuts likely to go into effect this fall.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-07-22/medicaid-cuts-states/56464794/1