OVERNIGHT HEALTHCARE: Data errors found in 2M O-Care sign-ups

by Ferdous Al-Faruque - 06/04/14 6:56 PM ET

More than 1 million people may be in jeopardy of paying back a portion of their ObamaCare subsidies because of discrepancies between their applications and federal records.

And another roughly 966,000 have discrepancies related to citizenship or immigration status, according to federal health officials.

{mosads}The Obama administration is now tediously working to reconcile the inconsistencies by hand.

A consumer’s health coverage will not be affected by a discrepancy for 90 days, giving federal health officials a window to sort out the confusion.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services spokeswoman Julie Bataille said roughly 60 percent of the 2.1 million records with discrepancies are within that 90-day period and can still produce additional documentation to confirm their eligibility for ObamaCare plans or subsidies. http://bit.ly/1x92n3Z

LEVIN CALLS FOUL: Back in March, GOP lawmakers wrote to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew about the potential discrepancies and asked the department to halt all subsidies to enrollees until the issues were resolved.

On Wednesday, the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich), ripped into his GOP colleagues for demanding a halt to the subsidies.

“What’s troubling is that in their zeal to continue to play politics with Americans’ health insurance, congressional Republicans are now trying to deny tax credits to millions of individuals and families just weeks after many of them signed up for coverage,” said Levin. http://bit.ly/1kMqI5O

MEDICAID BOOSTS O-CARE: The Obama administration announced Wednesday that Medicaid enrollments under ObamaCare surged to 6 million by the end of April, with significant increases in Nevada, Oregon and West Virginia.

The Department of Health and Human Services cheered ObamaCare’s expansion of Medicaid for contributing to the marked increase in sign-ups.

In states that adopted the expansion, enrollment grew by 15.3 percent over the pre-ObamaCare rate, according to HHS. States that failed to widen eligibility to the program saw enrollment increase by only 3.3 percent. http://bit.ly/1iYhX91

DEMS PUSH FOR MEDICAID EXPANSION: Some of the most vulnerable Democratic senators signed on to a Wednesday letter asking Republican governors to “put politics aside” and expand Medicaid coverage under ObamaCare.

Democratic Sens. Mark Begich (Alaska), Mary Landrieu (La.) and Kay Hagan (N.C.), who are running in tight midterm reelection races, were among the 20 who signed the letter. It was addressed to their three governors, along with 15 others.

“Your state’s decision not to expand health coverage is creating two Americas: one where millions are benefiting from preventive care and covered treatments while local economies get stronger and healthier by the day; and another where patients continue to show up to emergency rooms without a way to pay and the local economies are falling further and further behind,” the senators wrote. http://bit.ly/1mbv8V4

BURWELL UP FOR FINAL VOTE: The Senate voted 67-28 on Wednesday to advance the nomination of Sylvia Burwell to head the Department of Health and Human Services.

More than 10 Senate Republicans voted with Democrats to end debate on her nomination. A final confirmation vote is expected Thursday. http://bit.ly/1x95klc

STATE BY STATE:

Ohio considers banning birth control, abortion coverage: http://j.mp/1kDnKFB

New effort to expand Medicaid advances in Pennsylvania: http://j.mp/S9IqcD

NC doctors meet governor to back Medicaid plan: http://j.mp/Svais6

Rep. Griffin talks Medicaid private option: http://j.mp/1jRZ47e

READING LIST:

One in five Americans is now on Medicaid: http://j.mp/1hbXjXP

Carbon rules could cut asthma costs: http://j.mp/1i2G9XH

Catholic charities, Philadelphia archdiocese sue over O-Care: http://j.mp/1pGqMvP

WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED AT THE HILL:

Potential VA secretary critical of ObamaCare: http://bit.ly/SuROYS

O-Care expert backs alternative to employer mandate: http://bit.ly/1p7yg8A