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What We're Reading: ACA Premium Increases; Medicaid Funding Schools; Police Team Up With Therapists
Some states could see Affordable Care Act premiums increase by as much as 90% over 3 years; Medicaid funding is increasingly being used to finance education-related services; some police departments are partnering officers with mental health professionals to respond to certain calls.
ACA Premiums Could Increase 90% in Some States
A new report from Covered California has found that some states could see premiums for Affordable Care Act plans increase by 90% over 3 years. According to The Hill, changes to the law by Congress and the Trump administration will cause premium increases in every state ranging from 12% to 32%, beginning in 2019. Wisconsin, Michigan, and Texas are expected to see the highest cumulative increases by 2021.
Medicaid Increasingly Funds School Services
Medicaid is now being used to finance education-related services, including therapy for Medicaid-covered students and transportation for children with disabilities. Medicaid spending on schools accounts for $4 billion of the program’s annual $400 billion budget, reported Kaiser Health News. Medicaid dollars are funding school nurses, counselors, and other health staff, as well as helping to buy medical equipment and generally boost education budgets.
Police Partner With Therapists
Some police departments are creating “co-response teams” of police officers and mental health professionals to handle situations involving those with mental health issues. The Wall Street Journal reported that mental health professionals can be used to de-escalate situations with the mentally ill and avoid incidents where police fear for their lives and shoot the person. Funding for these teams can come from both police budgets and municipal health departments.
