California Wrestles With Growing Medicaid Costs
California Healthline talks to officials and consumer advocates about changes in the program. Meanwhile, a D.C.-based firm looks likely to get a new contract and Kansas is planning to give more residents services.
California Healthline: Managing Medi-Cal With Enrollment Up, Spending Down
Although the federal government initially will cover costs for many new Medi-Cal beneficiaries, the size and cost of the program are growing. Even if federal courts deny the state's proposal to reduce reimbursement by 10 percent, pressure will be applied to reduce program spending. With enrollment going up and already-low reimbursements going down, we asked legislators, state officials and consumer advocates how policymakers should steer California's Medi-Cal course (4/29).
The Washington Post: Thrive Likely To Get D.C. Health Contract
An upstart firm that has undergone tough scrutiny from lawmakers and health care providers appears set to receive a major chunk of the District's $2.4 billion-a-year Medicaid business (DeBonis, 4/29).
Kansas Health Institute: Governor's Plan Would Take 600 Off Waiting Lists for Social Services
Gov. Sam Brownback today released details of his plan to reduce the waiting lists for home- and community-based Medicaid services. The $18.5 million in additional spending would move "approximately" 400 physically disabled and 200 developmentally disabled Kansans into services, if approved by the Legislature, according to administration officials who said it would be "difficult to project exactly how many on the waiting lists will be removed” (Ranney, 4/29).