March 16 -- NE awarded $6.

4M for health information exchange -- from fed stimulus bill

http://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_cdf483b6-35c9-11df-a053-
001cc4c03286.html

March 22 -- AG Bruning says health reform violates Constitution

http://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_cdf483b6-35c9-11df-a053-
001cc4c03286.html

March 23 -- Obama signs health care reform bill

April 27 -- Heineman Turns down health insurance program (high-risk pool)

http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/article_6ded464e-5237-11df-88c1-
001cc4c03286.html

April 29 -- LJS Editorial -- Right Call on High-Risk Pool

http://journalstar.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_000d021c-5323-11df-bf5d-001cc4c002e0.html

July 31, Lincoln Journal Star Dave Heineman may not seek $1M health care reform grant

August 6: The Hill: States implement reforms of healthcare as lawsuits proceed

August 17: Think Progress The Wonk Room: 19 of the 22 States Suing Government Over Reform
Willing to Accept Grant Money From Law

August 17: California Health LIne: States Receive Grants To Boost Regulation of Health Rate Plans

August 16: The Hill Democrats tout healthcare reform's insurance rate review grants

August 20 Governor Heineman's press release: Medicaid Costs To Soar Under Federal Health Care
Law

August 27: Bloomberg Businessweek: Neb. education groups urged to fight health care reform

August 31: The Hill In Nebraska, Nelson Slams GOP governor for 'intimidating' educators over health
reform

August 31: Huffington Post: Health Care Reform Hypocrisy: States Suing Government Willing To
Claim Subsidies From Law

August 31: Lincoln Journal Star: Heineman will apply for health care reform funds

September 1: Lincoln Journal Star Nebraska applies for health care grant

September 9: Wall Street Journal -- Health care Tease -- Article re Pawlenty

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704358904575478160851816780.html
Below links to govt. summary of “Hotel CA” medicaid expansion Pawlenty turned down
https://www.cms.gov/smdl/downloads/SMD10005.pdf
More on Pawlenty turning this down
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/192810.php
As of May, only Conn. And D.C. Had decided to expand Medicaid early
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/189622.php

September 13: Sebelius has a list -- Thuggery from HHS

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703597204575483900330728436.html
ObamaCare gives Ms. Sebelius's regulators the power to define "unreasonable" premium hikes, which
will mean whatever they decide it will mean later this fall. She promised to keep a list of insurers "with
a record of unjustified rate increases" and then to bar them from ObamaCare's subsidized "exchanges"
when they come on line in 2014. In other words, insurers must accept price controls now or face the
retribution of a de facto ban on selling their products to consumers four years from now.

http://www.empirejustice.org/issue-areas/health/medicaid/general-information/medicaid-expansion-in-
federal.html

New Financial Funding – but Only for Benchmark Coverage?

Section 2001 of PPACA temporarily increases the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for
newly eligible Subsection VIII populations. Enhanced Federal Funding for newly eligible Subsection
VIII individuals is 100% for the first three years of the mandatory program (2014-2017). Enhanced
matching funds will ramp down gradually to the level of 90% in the year 2020 and thereafter. States
like New York that already cover some of the newly eligible with state funds or through a waiver will
receive the increase in federal funding at a lower rate (75%) initially, ramping up to the same level
(90%) as other states by 2020.
The gift of enhanced federal funding does not come without strings. PPACA § 2001(b) prohibits states
from imposing any eligibility standards, methodologies or procedures that would be more restrictive
than what existed in their Medicaid or SCHP programs on the date the new federal law was enacted.
This Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirement continues for adults until 2014, although coverage can
be modified for certain adults (e.g. parents) starting in 2011 based on the State’s certification of a
budget deficit. MOE continues for children, under CHP and Medicaid, until 2019.
While the MOE provisions generally benefit our clients here in New York, another string in the federal
funding provisions may work in the opposite direction. Under §2001(a)(2), the new federal matching
funds will not be available for the VIII group unless they are receiving what federal law refers to as
“benchmark” or “benchmark-equivalent” coverage. 4 Some groups are exempted from enrollment in
benchmark coverage, including those who qualify for Medicaid as disabled. In addition, benchmark
coverage includes an option for “Secretary approved coverage.” States that elect the early coverage
option prior to 2014 may be permitted to provide full Medicaid coverage for Section VIII individuals.
New York’s Medicaid coverage is currently more comprehensive than the benchmark coverage defined
in federal law. It will be very important for New York State to opt for Secretary-approved coverage in
order that we not lose precious ground in ensuring that Medicaid covers all medically-necessary
services.
PPACA §1331 allows states to offer a “Basic Health Program” for individuals between 134% and
200% of the FPL through the exchange. Given that prior to the adoption of the PPACA, New York
requested a federal waiver to raise the Family Health Plus (FHP) income levels for childless adults and
those living with minor children to 200% of the FPL, whether FHP can become New York’s Basic
Health Program should be explored.