State Highlights: Indiana, N.H., Examine Obamacare Enrollment Gaps; New Blue Cross Contracts For Pa. Health System

Oct 19 2013

A selection of health policy stories from Indiana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and California.

The Associated Press: Report: 182,000 Low-Income Hoosiers Could Go Without Health Insurance
A new report that 182,000 low-income residents could go without health insurance is refocusing attention on whether Indiana will win an exception to expand Medicaid using the Healthy Indiana Plan. The Kaiser Family Foundation reported this week that 28 percent of the state's uninsured residents fall in that "gap" between Medicaid coverage and qualifying for subsidized insurance through the federal exchange. Nationally, the percentage is similar, but the number falling in that gap is more than 5 million (LoBianco, 10/17).

The Associated Press: Gaps Found In NH Insurance Enrollment Resources
As efforts get underway to insure New Hampshire residents under the new federal health care overhaul law, researchers say the demand for enrollment assistance likely exceeds available resources across much of the state's southern tier. The New Hampshire Health Plan, which currently runs the state's high-risk insurance pool, was approved this month to accept a $5 million federal grant for state-specific outreach and education about the law (Ramer, 10/17).

The Philadelphia Inquirer: Blue Cross, Jefferson Health Announce New Contracts
Independence Blue Cross and the Jefferson Health System on Thursday announced new two-year contracts for Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals and Main Line Health that include the potential for millions in incentive payments. The agreement with Jefferson means that IBC has 23 of 38 general adult hospitals in its network operating under incentive-laden contracts. Nearly $100 million in bonus payments from IBC are at stake for the hospitals and health systems next year (Brubaker, 10/18).

Los Angeles Times: A Journey From Mental Illness To Music And A Standing Ovation
With help from San Francisco's Behavioral Health Court two years ago, [Kim] Knoble found herself not in prison -- where she was headed after committing a violent crime while off her medications -- but instead surrounded by a team of treatment specialists who have helped her thrive. The poised young woman, whose story was recently featured in The Times, told it in her own words Wednesday to an audience gathered at the St. Francis Yacht Club to celebrate the court's 10-year anniversary (Romney, 10/17).