Episode 141: The Scope of Threat of Medicaid Cuts and what this could mean for families in the US.

In today's episode, we chat with Leo Cuello, J.D., a Research Professor at the Center for Children and Families in the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. Leo helps us understand what Medicaid is and the roles it performs as the U.S. largest health coverage program.Timeline of the conversation:2:00 What is Medicaid and how does it impact the disability community? What services does Medicaid cover?7:00 Medicaid pays 60% of the long-term care, covering nursing homes and 70% of the home and community-based services.10:00 Medicaid is known by different names in different States, and eligibility criteria for each program may vary. For example in Tennessee, Medicaid is known as Tenncare.20:00 Home and Community-based waivers or exemptions25:23 Funding and how does money flow from the Federal to the State level (federal matching dollars per State . According to HUD Exchange, Tennessee receives $1.86 for each healthcare dollar it spends).36:00 What is Medicaid Expansion? (States not currently enrolled in this program include: AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, SC, TN, TX, WI, WY)37:00 Implications of Medicaid Cuts for Rural Communities?41:00 Misinformation that Medicaid Cuts will not affect individuals with disabilities44:00 What is Fraud, Waste, and Abuse as it relates to healthcare?51:00 What does Medicaid cuts mean for healthcare providers? How do States adjust for Medicaid cuts? 1) Change eligibility criteria2) Change program coverage3)Cut provider rates56:00 Call to Action. Contact your Congress Representative and Senator to tell them what Medicaid means to your family. You can find representatives at the following links: https://www.house.gov/ or https://www.senate.gov/. If you are comfortable with making a call, contact your representative at the US Capitol Building (202) 224- 3121 and respectfully speak or leave a message advocating for #NoCutsToMedicaid.Names of Medicaid per State Arkansas Health CareCaliforniaMedi-CalColoradoHealth First ColoradoConnecticut Husky HealthDelawareDelaware MedicaidFlorida Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)GeorgiaGeorgia MedicaidIllinoisIllinois MedicaidIowaIowa MedicaidKentuckyKentucky MedicaidMaineMaineCareMarylandMaryland MedicaidMassachusettsMassHealthMichiganMichigan MedicaidMinnesotaMinnesota Family CareMontanaMontana MedicaidNebraskaNebraska MedicaidNevadaNevada MedicaidNew HampshireNH MedicaidNew JerseyNew Jersey Medicaid New Mexico New Mexico MedicaidNew York New York MedicaidNorth Carolina MedicaidNorth Dakota North Dakota Medicaid