Friday, May 20, 2005
Medicaid reform in the works for next session
[Chris Moon, "Session to end on working note," The Topeka Capital-Journal, 20 May 2005.]
Kansas state legislators wrapped up another session with little progress made on Medicaid, but the mood seems ripe for a return to the issue next year:
[Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton] threw out another idea Thursday -- reforming Medicaid to force the recipients of the state's low-income medical program to cough up a co-pay when they receive medical benefits.
This year alone, Morris said, the cost of Medicaid jumped by $154 million. Next to education, Medicaid is the second-biggest line item in the state budget.
Characterizing his effort as "an aggressive push" for reforms, Morris said he would call for a legislative study this summer to look at the idea, which he said would make Medicaid more like traditional health insurance, where consumers pay small amounts each time they see a doctor or pick up a prescription.
That would save the state money and ensure Medicaid recipients are using the program when they truly need it, Morris said.
"To have that unlimited access out there that's just growing like a weed, uncontrollable, we have to do something," he said, discounting the notion that the state would be solving its budget problems by picking on its most vulnerable citizens.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, said he hadn't formed an opinion on the issue. But he supported studying Medicaid.
"It's politically volatile," he said, "but it's something we need to take a really close look at and proceed cautiously."
Co-payments are just a first step toward needed reforms, but they are at least a step. Let's hope that legislators can keep these thoughts in mind over the next few months.
[Devon M. Herrick, "Give Medicaid recipients more control," The Wichita Eagle, 3 March 2005.
Michael Bond and Matthew Hisrich, "Medicaid Lessons From Former Communists," The Wichita Independent Business Association Newsletter, February 2005.]
[Chris Moon, "Session to end on working note," The Topeka Capital-Journal, 20 May 2005.]
Kansas state legislators wrapped up another session with little progress made on Medicaid, but the mood seems ripe for a return to the issue next year:
[Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton] threw out another idea Thursday -- reforming Medicaid to force the recipients of the state's low-income medical program to cough up a co-pay when they receive medical benefits.
This year alone, Morris said, the cost of Medicaid jumped by $154 million. Next to education, Medicaid is the second-biggest line item in the state budget.
Characterizing his effort as "an aggressive push" for reforms, Morris said he would call for a legislative study this summer to look at the idea, which he said would make Medicaid more like traditional health insurance, where consumers pay small amounts each time they see a doctor or pick up a prescription.
That would save the state money and ensure Medicaid recipients are using the program when they truly need it, Morris said.
"To have that unlimited access out there that's just growing like a weed, uncontrollable, we have to do something," he said, discounting the notion that the state would be solving its budget problems by picking on its most vulnerable citizens.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, said he hadn't formed an opinion on the issue. But he supported studying Medicaid.
"It's politically volatile," he said, "but it's something we need to take a really close look at and proceed cautiously."
Co-payments are just a first step toward needed reforms, but they are at least a step. Let's hope that legislators can keep these thoughts in mind over the next few months.
[Devon M. Herrick, "Give Medicaid recipients more control," The Wichita Eagle, 3 March 2005.
Michael Bond and Matthew Hisrich, "Medicaid Lessons From Former Communists," The Wichita Independent Business Association Newsletter, February 2005.]
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