Statehouse Proposals For Trimming Medicaid

Here are some of the proposals under consideration by a subcommittee of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee:

Impose a co-payment on all Medicaid services, where allowed by federal law. Savings: $1.8 million a year, not counting additional savings if people use the services less.

Cut back spending on transportation of patients to doctor appointments, partly by combining trips and partly by cutting payments to companies that provide the service. Savings: $1.4 million.

Cut payments to pharmacists for prescription drugs from 89 to 83 percent of wholesale. Savings: $4.8 million.

Discontinue services for the developmentally disabled under state plan, and switch to federal waiver program, for which not all patients qualify. Savings: $5.2 million.

Reduce visits to physical therapists by 25 percent per patient. Savings: $510,000.

Cut reimbursement rate for personal care services providers, who help the elderly and disabled at home, by 10 percent. Savings: $2.2 million.

Require prior authorization and review for mental health services, with the idea that the number of visits for those services would be reduced. Savings: $2.6 million.

A subcommittee reviewing the possible cutbacks holds its third meeting Tuesday afternoon in the state Capitol.

The subcommittee later will provide recommendations to the full budget committee. To comment on proposed changes, contact subcommittee Chairman Sen. Robert Lee at (800) 626-0471, or contact your legislator.

1. Cutting into care 2. People with disabilities would feel cuts