Health Care Reform Bill – Medicaid Changes

Here’s a few details on how the Health Care Reform Bill impacts Medicaid from a nutrition standpoint.

Medicaid

A 5 year grant will be established to provide incentives for implementing a healthy lifestyle. This includes weight loss, cholesterol reduction, diabetes prevention, and diabetes management. The grant will cover preventive services that are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and will eliminate cost sharing for prevention services. The grant won’t be effective until January 1, 2011. (FYI – The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is established with the passing of the bill into law.)

The bill also allows Medicaid to provide medical home waivers for state-coordinated programs focusing on diabetes prevention and treatment, cardiovascular disease treatment, and weight loss. This will increase the Medicaid coverage provided when you work with nutritionists and dietitians.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Heart Healthy Tips
http://www.hearthealthmadeeasy.com