What We're Reading: Medicaid Lifetime Limits; Long-Term Care; More States File Opioid Lawsuits

Trump Administration Holds on Medicaid Lifetime Limits

While the Trump administration is allowing states more flexibility with their Medicaid coverage, it will not approve lifetime limits. Speaking during an event hosted by The Washington Post, CMS Administrator Seema Verma said that the administration has made it clear to states that it will not approve such limits to Medicaid benefits, reported The Hill. The administration has already rejected Kansas’ request to cap how long people can receive Medicaid benefits, but Maine, Arizona, Utah, and Wisconsin have also requested the ability to impose a lifetime limit. The proposals exempt children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities from coverage limits.

Poll Finds Young Adults Feel Stress of Long-Term Care

A significant number of young adults are providing long-term care for older loved ones, and they’re more likely to feel stressed by that caregiving than older counterparts who put in longer hours. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found 17% of young adults are currently providing long-term care, another 19% have provided such care in the past, and another third expect they’ll have to provide long-term care in the next 5 years.

Additional States File Lawsuits Against Opioid Makers

Florida, Texas, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Tennessee have joined more than a dozen other states and hundreds of counties that have filed lawsuits against opioid makers for their alleged role in fueling the opioid epidemic. According to The Wall Street Journal, Florida filed suit against painkiller makers, as well as drug distributors. Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas have all filed suit against Purdue Pharma only. Texas and Florida are the most populous states yet to pursue litigation.