Tag Archives: Medicaid

All About Medicaid

We’ve talked a lot about Medicare on this blog but Medicaid, a federal-state health care program, is also on our radar. In fact, it’s one of our High Risk issues. Today’s WatchBlog looks at the size and complexity of Medicaid, … Continue reading

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Health Care Fraud Schemes (podcast)

How do you find—and stop—fraudsters among Medicare and Medicaid’s 100 million beneficiaries, countless providers, and more than $1 trillion in annual spending? It helps to know what you’re looking for. Listen to Kathleen King, a director in our Health Care … Continue reading

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Making the Difficult Decisions about End-of-Life Care

Planning for your future isn’t just about saving for retirement. Thinking ahead about end-of-life care, uncomfortable as it may be, can help avoid difficult situations later—for both you and your loved ones. For example, if you’re incapacitated, do you want all … Continue reading

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Our Prescriptions for Prescription Drug Abuse

Prescription drugs are generally safe when taken as directed, but they can also be abused. Moreover, some people try to use their insurance to pay for prescriptions they shouldn’t be getting. Read on for our look at how two federal … Continue reading

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National Immunization Awareness Month

Let’s face it: no one likes getting shots. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccinations help protect everyone from infants to elderly people against all sorts of dangerous and potentially lethal diseases. Each August the CDC … Continue reading

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Checking Up on Medicare and Medicaid at 50

Today Medicare and Medicaid turn 50. These landmark programs are the largest sources of health care coverage for millions of older, low-income, and medically needy Americans. Medicare helps provide health care coverage for 54 million aged and disabled individuals, and … Continue reading

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Exploring 19 States’ Medicaid Managed Care Data

As Medicaid spending and enrollment have grown in recent years, states have increasingly turned to managed care as a way to try to save money and improve delivery of medical services. Yet little is known about the number or types … Continue reading

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Podcast on Medicaid Fraud Controls

Through Medicaid, hundreds of thousands of doctors and other health care professionals provide care to tens of millions of beneficiaries—at a cost of $310 billion to the federal government in fiscal year 2014. To help ensure only legitimate providers and … Continue reading

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Podcast on Medicaid Payments to Health Care Providers

Under Medicaid, states pay health care providers and receive federal matching funds for their payments. We have previously found that some states’ excessive Medicaid payments to certain provider institutions shifted costs inappropriately from states to the federal government.

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October Is National Dental Hygiene Month

As autumn brings the chocolates, lollipops, and other sweets that come with Halloween, this is an excellent time to remember your teeth! October is National Dental Hygiene Month, which highlights the importance of keeping your mouth, teeth, and gums clean … Continue reading

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