Author archive for lhigashi

By The Charlotte Observer StaffCHARLOTTE, NC (Ann Doss Helms/The Charlotte Observer) - As North Carolina's legislators prepare to try once more to control the cost of Medicaid, the settlement of a longstanding lawsuit may provide some protection to people with developmental disabilities.The settlement affects nearly 12,000 North Carolinians with mental…

Nonprofit hospitals get big tax breaks for providing care for patients who can't afford it. Under new IRS rules these hospitals must take extra steps to inform poor patients they may qualify for financial assistance.By Paul KielLast month, ProPublica and NPR detailed how one nonprofit hospital in Missouri sued thousands…

By Phil GalewitzPALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.—Rita Gorenflo's 7-year-old son Nathaniel was in severe pain from a sinus infection.But since the boy was covered by Medicaid, she couldn't immediately find a specialist willing to see him. After days of calling, she was finally able to get Nathaniel an appointment nearly…

By Kate GiammariseThe state can proceed with a planned Medicaid overhaul set to take effect today, thanks to a federal judge's denial of a motion Wednesday afternoon to halt the changes.The decision comes less than three weeks before Tom Wolf — who has pledged to scrap the Medicaid changes…