States trying to wrangle Medicaid costs, with some unintended consequences

Nov 7 2011

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Medicaid Cost Cuts Planned
Wisconsin is not alone in dealing with the thorny task of trying to lower the cost of its health care programs for low-income residents. Massachusetts no longer pays for restorative dental care and dentures. Washington no longer covers eyeglasses and hearing aids. Minnesota no long covers chiropractic care. … Every state plans to implement at least one policy to control Medicaid spending this fiscal year (Boulton, 11/6).

Health News Florida: AARP Opposes FL Medicaid Waiver
With federal approval, a Republican-led bill passed this spring would attempt to plug budget shortfalls by expanding the five-county pilot and moving 3 million of the state's poor and disabled into private managed-care insurance plans. ... AARP, which advocates for Florida's 2.7 million seniors, is one of at least 100 organizations to oppose the overhaul, including the Florida Medical Association and several county medical associations (Davis, 11/4).

The New York Times: Settlement Prompts Fear About Cuts To Medicaid
When New York City agreed to pay $70 million this week to settle accusations of Medicaid fraud in a program intended to take care of disabled people at home, it seemed like a victory for the disabled. But now, in a letter sent late Thursday to federal law enforcement and Medicaid officials, dozens of organizations representing disabled people are saying ... that as a result of the deal, the city is telling elderly clients that it intends to reduce or discontinue 24-hour services like bathing and toileting that have kept them at home and out of a nursing home (Hartocollis, 11/4).