Latest Morning Briefing Stories

California Pays Meth Users To Get Sober

ĢӰԺ Health News Original

California’s Medicaid program is testing a novel approach for people addicted to methamphetamine, cocaine, and other stimulants. For every clean urine test, they can earn money — up to $599 a year.

California’s $12 Billion Medicaid Makeover Banks on Nonprofits’ Buy-In

ĢӰԺ Health News Original

California’s Medicaid program is relying heavily on community groups to deliver new social services to vulnerable patients, such as security deposits for homeless people and air purifiers for asthma patients. But many of these nonprofits face staffing and billing challenges and haven’t been able to deliver services effectively.

New Eligibility Rules Are a Financial Salve for Nearly 2 Million on Medi-Cal

ĢӰԺ Health News Original

Nearly 2 million Medi-Cal enrollees, mainly people who are aged, disabled, or in long-term care, can now accumulate savings and property without limitations and still qualify for the state’s health insurance program for low-income residents. They join an additional roughly 12 million enrollees who already had no asset limits.

Is Housing Health Care? State Medicaid Programs Increasingly Say ‘Yes’

ĢӰԺ Health News Original

States are using their Medicaid programs to offer poor and sick people housing services, such as paying six months’ rent or helping hunt for apartments. The trend comes in response to a growing homelessness epidemic, but experts caution this may not be the best use of limited health care money.