In today's episode, we chat with Leo Cuello, J.D., a Research Professor at the Center for Children and Families in the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University.
Leo helps us understand what Medicaid is and the roles it performs as the U.S. largest health coverage program.
Timeline of the conversation:
2:00 What is Medicaid and how does it impact the disability community? What services does Medicaid cover?
7:00 Medicaid pays 60% of the long-term care, covering nursing homes and 70% of the home and community-based services.
10:00 Medicaid is known by different names in different States, and eligibility criteria for each program may vary. For example in Tennessee, Medicaid is known as Tenncare.
20:00 Home and Community-based waivers or exemptions
25:23 Funding and how does money flow from the Federal to the State level (federal matching dollars per State . According to HUD Exchange, Tennessee receives $1.86 for each healthcare dollar it spends).
36:00 What is Medicaid Expansion? (States not currently enrolled in this program include: AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, SC, TN, TX, WI, WY)
37:00 Implications of Medicaid Cuts for Rural Communities?
41:00 Misinformation that Medicaid Cuts will not affect individuals with disabilities
44:00 What is Fraud, Waste, and Abuse as it relates to healthcare?
51:00 What does Medicaid cuts mean for healthcare providers?
How do States adjust for Medicaid cuts?
1) Change eligibility criteria
2) Change program coverage
3)Cut provider rates
56:00 Call to Action.
Contact your Congress Representative and Senator to tell them what Medicaid means to your family. You can find representatives at the following links: https://www.house.gov/ or https://www.senate.gov/.
If you are comfortable with making a call, contact your representative at the US Capitol Building (202) 224- 3121 and respectfully speak or leave a message advocating for #NoCutsToMedicaid.
Arkansas Health Care
CaliforniaMedi-Cal
ColoradoHealth First Colorado
Connecticut Husky Health
DelawareDelaware Medicaid
Florida Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
GeorgiaGeorgia Medicaid
IllinoisIllinois Medicaid
IowaIowa Medicaid
KentuckyKentucky Medicaid
MaineMaineCare
MarylandMaryland Medicaid
MassachusettsMassHealth
MichiganMichigan Medicaid
MinnesotaMinnesota Family Care
MontanaMontana Medicaid
NebraskaNebraska Medicaid
NevadaNevada Medicaid
New HampshireNH Medicaid
New JerseyNew Jersey Medicaid
New Mexico New Mexico Medicaid
New York New York Medicaid
North Carolina Medicaid
North Dakota North Dakota Medicaid