Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Overall savings on track from last year’s Medicaid cuts, H&W reports…

Overall, Idaho's Medicaid program is making the savings anticipated from program cuts in last year's HB 260, division administrator Paul Leary told JFAC this morning, though not every cut has yielded the expected savings. Examples: Cutting non-emergency dental coverage for adults will meet or exceed the anticipated $1.7 million savings, but cutting podiatry and optometry services other than those needed for chronic care hasn't yielded the anticipated $800,000 savings; enough people with chronic conditions are needing those services that there haven't been savings. A reduction in psychosocial rehabilitation services by one hour per week is on track to save the anticipated $2.27 million or more; cuts in pharmacy reimbursements and adult developmental disabilities services also are saving the anticipated $2 million each or more. A plan to establish enforceable co-payments hasn't yet yielded savings.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

Follow Betsy online: