March 3, 2011 in Idaho

Bill cuts Medicaid by $39 million

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BOISE – The House Health and Welfare Committee has agreed to consider a bill that would whack $39 million from the state Medicaid budget, set new eligibility rules for clients and impose changes in the way health and treatment services are provided.

The committee unanimously approved a bill Wednesday that will play a key role in balancing the 2012 budget and help the state deal with explosive growth in Medicaid, the state and federal program that pays health care costs for the elderly, low-income families and children with disabilities.

Rep. Janice McGeachin, R-Idaho Falls and chairwoman of the committee, said the legislation is designed to reduce health care costs and ease financial strain Medicaid puts on the state budget. But she also said it intends to reform how services are delivered and suspends or discontinues programs that aren’t supported by positive results and outcomes.

The budget proposal submitted in January by Gov. Butch Otter recommended $25 million in Medicaid cuts. But the bill advanced Wednesday recommends another $14 million in Medicaid cuts.

Savings come from a variety of programs, most targeting services for adults.

© Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Three comments on this story so far. Add yours!

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  berrybestfarm on March 03 at 7:22 a.m.

  Nationaly, In addition to outright fraud there are many Billions to be saved by rooting out abuse of the system. Here are some examples. A few years ago when working for an Idaho social service comapany I was stunned that the state program rules allowed the private, for profit company to set the number of hours of care their clients needed. Here in Spokane I worked for an agency that required me to take disabled clients to the emergency room for any cut wider than a bandage and the common cold if they could not get an appointment with their doctor within 24 hours. We were also required to call an ambulance for any fall whether or not there was any evidence of injury—mind you the company had nurses on retainer who could make medical judgment calls. Billions and Billions to be saved nation wide.
  Dennis Patterson—Deer Park

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  DickAdams on March 03 at 8:40 a.m.

  A few years ago, to save money, rather than go to the dentist for a partial I`d cut out the middle person and have a dental mechanic make up my plate. I noticed on the dental service wall a chart showing implants for teeth avoiding either a bridge or partial. I asked a person working there if any of the patients ever paid for implants, figuring most of the people asking for implants would go to a dentist. I was shocked at the answer. I was told only medicaid patients used the plan and medicaid picked up the tab. A transplant anchor and adding a tooth to it is high test. Too rich for my blood. I pay for my own freight and I think it is obscene allowing medicaid patients to have a transplant paid for by the taxpayers.

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  greenlibertarian on March 03 at 9:15 a.m.

  Pfffft, pennies in context, let’s look at the REAL fraud and abuse going on:

  Report: Billions of Dollars Wasted on Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan
  By Caitlin Dickson Feb 28, 2011
  Since 2002, the United States has spent $117 billion on contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to a new report by the non-partisan Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan, tens of billions of those dollars have been wasted. (continues)

  http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2011/02/report-billions-of-dollars-wasted-on-contractors-in-iraq-and-afghanistan/20938/