Medicaid: North Carolina's good news, bad news; Georgia considering managed care

Jan 24 2012

Medicaid is making news in North Carolina, Georgia, Kansas and New Jersey.

The Associated Press/MSNBC: Even With Savings (N.C.) HHS Chief Frets About Medicaid
[There are] cost savings associated with a nationally-recognized health care initiative for the state designed to manage better outcomes for Medicaid consumers. ... The networks help 1.2 million patients with treatments for chronic and special conditions, ensure they aren't overprescribed drugs and encourage them to go to a primary-care doctor ... But with a projected $150 million Medicaid shortfall this year, a larger shortfall next year and a projected one-third increase in enrollees in 2014 because of the federal health care law, [Health and Human Services Secretary Lanier] Cansler sounds justified in worrying about the overall Medicaid program's long-term finances (Robertson, 1/22).

Kansas Health Institute News: Governor Hints At Money Targeted for Waiting-List Problem
Gov. Sam Brownback on Friday hinted that he would support using a portion of the savings from his proposed elimination of the state's earned income tax credit to reduce long-standing waiting lists for services for the disabled. ... Today, more than 4,800 developmentally disabled adults and children are on waiting lists for Medicaid-funded services in community-based programs. About 1,600 of those are receiving some services but waiting for others (Ranney, 1/20). 

Georgia Health News: Key Report On Medicaid Calls For Big Change
A consulting firm's long-awaited report calls for Georgia to consider adopting an enhanced managed care system for its Medicaid and PeachCare populations. The Navigant report ... analyzes Medicaid set-ups in several states and points to weaknesses in Georgia's overall health care system (Miller, 1/20).

CNN Money: Building A Business With Unwanted Customers
Most dentists don't want to touch kids on Medicaid with a 10-foot pole, much less a dental scraper. But Chris Harvell believes that treating the underserved can make for good business. And in New Jersey, which has one of the worst records for pediatric dental care in the U.S., kids have so few options that a good provider, even to those with little income, can make a profit (DuBois, 1/20).