Kansas Medicaid-CHIP enrollment rises despite tight eligibility standards

In Illinois, Medicaid coverage of adult dental and podiatry care is restored following a two-year cut.

Kansas Health Institute News Service: Kansas Sees Significant Increases In Medicaid-CHIP Enrollment
Unlike its neighboring states of Missouri and Nebraska, where significant decreases have been reported, Kansas has seen a significant jump in the number of people enrolled in its Medicaid-CHIP programs, even without loosening its relatively tight eligibility standards. According to a new report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, enrollment in the programs -- together branded as KanCare -- rose in April to a historic high of 426,642 people, or roughly one in seven Kansans. That's up from 396,374 in April 2013 (Shields, 6/16). 

The Associated Press: Quinn Signs Illinois Medicaid Cuts Restoration
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation to restore Medicaid cuts made two years ago along with other changes. The Chicago Democrat signed the bill Monday at a Chicago hospital. In 2012, funding for adult dental and podiatry services was cut to save money. Quinn says the law was the result of a long negotiation and will modernize Medicaid (6/16). 

The Chicago Sun-Times: Adult Dental, Podiatric Care Will Be Covered By Medicaid
Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill Monday to make a few key changes to Medicaid, including restoring two types of Medicaid coverage that were cut two years ago to save money. Adult dental care and podiatric care will again be covered by Medicaid, starting on or after Oct. 1. Both were cut in 2012 to save money. Supporters have argued that paying for these preventative services will actually save money in the long run by keeping patients out of emergency rooms (Thomas, 6/16).