medicaid

• Politics

Dental care could be covered for some Maryland Medicaid recipients under bill passed by General Assembly

Some adults who are insured under Maryland's Medicaid program could soon be covered for dental care for the first time under a pilot program the General Assembly approved Saturday. For now, Medicaid only covers dental care for children and emergency room dental care for adults.

By Scott Dance

Apr 7, 2018

• Health

Prescriptions of methadone for pain have declined, study finds

Doctors have made progress in recent years to reduce the prescription of methadone to fight pain amid efforts to reduce use of the drug after a spate of overdose deaths, a study by The Pew Charitable Trusts found.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Apr 6, 2018

• Politics

Maryland legislature approves plan to stabilize state's Obamacare market with new tax on insurers

State lawmakers have finalized a bipartisan measure to collect $380 million in taxes from health insurers next year, use the money to help hold down surging premiums for 150,000 Marylanders — and potentially prevent an Obamacare marketplace from altogether collapsing.

By Scott Dance

Apr 4, 2018

• Politics

Bill seeks test program to provide dental coverage for Maryland Medicaid recipients

A bill that passed the Maryland Senate would establish a pilot program to offer coverage for the most serious dental conditions under the Medicaid program.

By Michael Dresser

Mar 20, 2018

• Opinion

The sleeper issue in 2018: Obamacare

It's no coincidence that Gov. Larry Hogan is teaming up with Democrats in the legislature to shore up Obamacare. It could be a huge issue for him — and Republicans nationwide — come November.

• Opinion

Ben Carson must go

HUD secretary's costly furniture purchase is the straw the broke the camel's back.

• Opinion

Weakening of ACA hurts businesses, too

Attacks on Affordable Care Act spell trouble not just for patients but for small businesses as well.

• Commentary

Zirpoli: Children not a national priority

Let’s be honest. American children are not a national priority. I base this statement on two observations: How we spend our national resources and how we look after the overall well-being of our nation’s children.

• Maryland

Federal search warrants executed at pain clinics in Baltimore County

Federal agents on Tuesday raided two locations of a Baltimore County pain management clinic. The agents executed search warrants at the Owings Mills and Towson offices of Rosen-Hoffberg Rehabilitation and Pain Management Associates, federal law enforcement officials said.

By Alison Knezevich

Feb 27, 2018

• Commentary

Batavick: Seven deadly social sins

Deeds, statements and behavior that would have spelled doom for any politician in the past have now become normalized. It appears that many voters have lost their moral compass, or at least set it aside for the sake of political expediency.

• Opinion

Md. 'Drug Cost Commission' would set fair prescription prices

bs-ed-op-0222-drug-commission. In the absence of action at the federal level to address rising drug costs, Maryland has taken the lead on this critical issue. This year, we’ve introduced legislation to create a Drug Cost Commission that would set fair rates for high cost drugs in Maryland.

• Opinion

The rational safety choice: arm teachers

The best way to prevent school shootings is to arm and train teachers.

• Health

Maryland Medicaid program bans some drug testing due to costs

The state Medicaid program banned use of some lab tests for those in substance use treatment because of the cost, calling them not medically necessary.

By Meredith Cohn

Feb 15, 2018

• Maryland

Letter: Overturning Roe v. Wade eliminates safe option for women

Joe Vigliotti waxes poetic regarding the value of human life and suggests that Republicans embrace that value more than Democrats. I want to remind him that it

• Business

Maryland recovers $81 million from Medicaid technology contractor

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh announced an $81 million settlement from a contractor officials claimed botched a system to rebuild the state's Medicaid system.

By Meredith Cohn

Feb 9, 2018

• Politics

Legislation would add dental benefits for Maryland Medicaid recipients

Medicaid in Maryland covers the cost of an emergency room visit to treat oral infections or pain but not the cost of dentistry to prevent or fix the underlying problems. Health care advocates plan to push legislation in the current General Assembly session to close that coverage gap.

By Michael Dresser

Feb 7, 2018

• Politics

Ben Carson was cautioned son's involvement at HUD created appearance of a conflict, report says

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson allowed his son to help organize an event in Baltimore last year even though department lawyers warned it created the appearance of a conflict of interest.

By John Fritze

Jan 31, 2018

• Opinion

Time to defend Medicaid and the ACA

President Trump and many in Congress would like to trim vital health spending - we need to tell them not to do it.

• Opinion

Medicaid rules should not discourage drug addiction treatment

Medicaid rules should not keep addicts out of drug counseling.

• News

How Baltimore schools determine what constitutes poverty among students, families

The Baltimore school board voted this week to revamp the district’s funding formula, choosing to provide extra dollars to schools on the basis of student poverty rather than standardized test scores.

By Talia Richman

Jan 26, 2018

• Opinion

Md. students on opioid epidemic: We just want to help

As a graduate student in social work, I intern at an outpatient substance use disorder treatment program in Baltimore. But I can't help stem the opioid tide: I'm not allowed to work directly with patients because Medicaid will not reimburse for services provided by students, no matter how needed.

• Opinion

Landmark law removes barriers to contraception in Md.

As the anniversary of Roe v. Wade passes this week, we should recognize the significant reproductive rights women have gained over the past few decades and recent years.

• Health

Woman found outside Baltimore hospital in gown and socks was experiencing psychotic episode, her lawyer says

The attorney of a woman left outside of a Baltimore hospital on a cold night last week wearing only a patient gown and socks said the medical institution turned their back on her when she was having a psychotic episode.

• Opinion

Reich: Let's not use euphemisms for conduct unbecoming a president

It's time the media call Donald Trump's behavior what it is rather than try to normalize it through euphemisms, says Robert B. Reich.

• Health

Study shows Maryland meets goals of cutting health care costs without achieving changes in care delivery

Maryland’s ambitious program to curb health care spending is meeting that main goal, but it may not yet be transforming the way patients are treated.

By Meredith Cohn

Jan 16, 2018

• Opinion

Medicaid and work

Imposing a work requirement for Medicaid is not just a bad idea, it's a costly one, too.

• Health

Van parked outside of Baltimore jail offers drug treatment

A Baltimore nonprofit has outfitted a van to offer drug treatment to those leaving the city jail, a population considered at high risk of returning to substance use and overdose.

• Latest

Provider of housing for the disabled to pay state $500,000 for Medicaid fraud

Living Sans Frontieres, a company that provides housing for the disabled, must pay the state $500,000 for billing Medicaid for services it did not provide.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Jan 2, 2018

• Health

Open enrollment in Obamacare in Maryland ends today

The fifth open enrollment in Obamacare comes to a close in Maryland, and while signs ups in the state match last year's tally, the Affordable Care Act remains under threat by a series of steps in Washington.

By Meredith Cohn

Dec 22, 2017

• Opinion

Obamacare and the forgotten middle class

Obamacare has value, but at too high a cost for many middle income Americans.

• News

U.S. health care spending growth slowed last year

U.S. health spending increased 4.3 percent to $3.3 trillion last year.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Dec 8, 2017

• Business

Maryland to receive $10M from EpiPen maker Mylan in Medicaid fraud settlement

The State of Maryland will receive nearly $10 million from Epipen maker Mylan, part of a $465 million settlement with the Department of Justice over allegations of that it overbilled Medicaid for the life-saving device.

By Colin Campbell

Dec 7, 2017

• Opinion

Senate tax bill a 'ticking time bomb'

senate plan will raise taxes for low- and middle-income families

• Politics

Maryland testing a central piece of Trump's opioid response

A Trump administration initiative to combat the nation’s opioid epidemic is showing some early signs of success in Maryland but advocates warn it is unlikely to bring rapid change to a crisis killing 91 Americans each day.

By John Fritze

Nov 22, 2017

• Opinion

We will fight for our kids' health care, Congress

Know this, Congress: When you have spent as much time in hospitals watching your kid fight for her life as I have, you don’t just sit still and do nothing. You don’t stay quiet and hope for the best. Parents like me, we fight for our kids and their health care.

• Business

Hospital presidents talk about health issues with business owners

The presidents of the University of Maryland Medical Center and The Johns Hopkins Hospital speak to members of the Greater Baltimore Committee on a wide range of health issues during its monthly newsmaker breakfast.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Nov 15, 2017

• Maryland

Congressman Andy Harris tours northwest Carroll County

Congressman Andy Harris, R-District 1, visited the Taney Corporation Friday as part of a tour of businesses in the northwest corner of the county and his district.

• Health

Enrollments in the Maryland health exchange up in first week

Enrollments though the Maryland health exchange are up in the first week of the sign-up period, mirroring reports of heavy activity on the federal exchange and defying some expectations.

By Meredith Cohn

Nov 8, 2017

• Opinion

Robert B. Reich: The huge tax heist

Robert B. Reich shows why the average American's tax bill and other expenses will rise under the Republican's $5.8 trillion tax "cut" plan.

• Health

Open enrollment period for Obamacare plans begins today

The fifth open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act begins today and lasts for 45 days.

By Meredith Cohn

Nov 1, 2017

• Politics

Trump administration declares opioid crisis a public health emergency

President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency, a move that could expand access to treatment in some parts of Maryland but that falls short of the large increase in federal spending some advocates sought.

By John Fritze

Oct 26, 2017

• Health

Fentanyl-related overdose deaths continue to soar in Maryland

Overdose deaths continued their upward trend in Maryland, with the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl claiming the most lives.

By Meredith Cohn

Oct 24, 2017

• Maryland

Drug, alcohol overdoses could become third leading cause of death in Harford

Heroin and other opioid overdoses could become the third leading cause of death in Harford County — behind heart disease and cancer — if the overdoses continue at the rate they have been, Harford Co

By Erika Butler

Oct 23, 2017

• Opinion

Not repealing Obamacare among 'worst legislative failures in modern history'

To keep health insurance costs from spiraling out of control, we have changed providers four times since Obamacare was enacted seven years ago. Moreover, we have jacked up deductibles.

• Health

Health exchange works to counter confusion over Obamacare

Maryland health exchange officials work to counter confusion over Obamacare and enroll the uninsured.

By Meredith Cohn

Oct 16, 2017

• Politics

Maryland among worst in nation in investigating nursing home complaints on time, feds say

Maryland lags most of the nation in inspecting high-priority nursing home complaints, according to a federal report.

By John Fritze

Oct 12, 2017

• Maryland

Navigating Health: Look closely, get help if needed, when evaluating Medicare plans

One reason Medicare is costing us all more is because the private insurers participating in the Part C program are being overpaid by the government to provide lower cost health benefits.

• Maryland

Autism Society aims to expand housing in Howard County for developmentally disabled

Howard County Autism Society has plans underway to establish the county’s first intergenerational model of community housing, to provide supportive and independent housing for adults with autism.

By Kate Magill

Oct 5, 2017

• Opinion

Forget gun control, Congress isn't serious about mental health either

Speaker Ryan talks a big game about mental health after Las Vegas but it's all just talk.

• Opinion

Congress can't even handle health care for kids

Republicans and Democrats both like the Children's Health Insurance Program. But Congress is still screwing it up.