Tennessee continues to look for Medicaid expansion deal; expansion states see big reduction in uncompensated care
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is continuing intensive discussions with the feds over a deal for the state to expand Medicaid. Haslam has reportedly been interested in some elements of the Arkansas-style private option, but has had trouble finding an agreement palatable with the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Meanwhile, earlier this week HHS released a report finding that hospitals are facing $5.7 billion less in uncompensated care costs because of Obamacare, with states that expanded Medicaid getting the bulk of that benefit (about three quarters of the reduction took place in the expansion states).