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CBO Scores Finance Committee’s Health Reform Bill, Committee to Vote Tuesday; House Sends Three Bills for CBO Scoring

On October 7, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a preliminary analysis of the Senate Finance Committee’s amended Chairman’s Mark of the America’s Health Future Act of 2009. The CBO found that the amended bill would cost $829 billion over 10 years and lower the deficit by $81 billion. The Finance Committee will vote on the amended bill October 13. Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D–CA) announced that she will send three versions of the House health reform bill to the CBO, including one in which the public option would reimburse providers at rates 5 percent higher than Medicare rates and two versions in which the public plan would negotiate rates like private insurers.

President Obama Nominates Pamela Hyde as SAMHSA Administrator

President Barack Obama nominated New Mexico Secretary of Human Services Pamela S. Hyde, J.D., as Administrator of SAMHSA. Ms. Hyde has held her current position since 2003 and previously served as state mental health director, city housing and human services director, and CEO of Comcare, a private, nonprofit managed behavioral health care firm. Acting SAMHSA Administrator Rear Admiral Eric B. Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H., has headed the Agency since former Administrator Terry L. Cline, Ph.D., stepped down last year.

HHS Secretary Announces $40 Million in Grants To Increase CHIP and Medicaid Enrollment

On September 30, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced 69 grants to organizations in 41 states and the District of Columbia to help enroll children in states’ Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid programs. The grants, which total $40 million over 2 years, are part of $100 million allocated under the CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2009 to increase enrollment in the programs. HHS will issue another $40 million round of grants in 2012 in addition to $10 million for tribal organizations and $10 million for a national enrollment outreach effort.

Commonwealth Fund Releases 2009 State Scorecard on Health System Performance

The Commonwealth Fund released the results of the 2009 State Scorecard on Health System Performance on October 8, assessing states’ performance in health care access, quality, cost, and outcomes. The report found that states’ performance continues to vary widely; however, all states face rising health care costs and poor care coordination. The report notes that Vermont, Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Nebraska were the overall highest performers; however, the scorecard does not yet reflect the effects of the recession because of a reporting lag.

Report Finds Medicaid HCBS Spending Nearly Doubled Since 2001

A report released October 6 by the National Center for Assisted Living found that Medicaid spending on home and community-based services (HCBS) increased 81.5 percent from Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 to FY 2007, while nursing home spending grew 9.8 percent over the same period. The report found that, from 2001 to 2007, Medicaid nursing home spending went from $42.7 billion to $46.9 billion, while HCBS spending increased from $9.2 billion to $16.7 billion. In addition, the number of people receiving Medicaid services in licensed assisted living settings increased 44 percent from 2002 to 2009. HCBS Medicaid waivers now cover services in residential settings in 37 states, while an additional 13 states provide coverage directly through the state Medicaid plan.

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