Massachusetts Medicaid waiver extended

The $26.7 billion Medicaid waiver at the heart of healthcare reform in MASSACHUSETTS has been extended through 2014. The waiver amount represents a $5.7 billion increase over the previous waiver. The deal includes $120 million in new federal funding to switch safety-net hospitals to a system under which they receive a set budget to care for Medicaid patients. State officials say the waiver will help the state keep existing eligibility and benefit levels in Medicaid and Commonwealth Care, the state's subsidized insurance program.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has denied a request from MICHIGAN Gov. Rick Snyder to waive new limits on profits and administrative costs for the state's health insurers. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires insurers to spend at least 80% of the premiums they collect on healthcare. Seventeen states have asked for adjustments, but only MAINE has received a full exemption, whereas five others have received partial waivers.