State Medicaid faces 'significant’ cuts in services
By ANDREW DeMILLO The Associated Press
This article was originally published November 13, 2012 at 7:01 a.m. Updated November 13, 2012 at 12:04 p.m.
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LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Human Services is preparing for “significant” cuts in services to fill a shortfall of at least $100 million in the state’s Medicaid program.
Department Director John Selig said Tuesday that the Medicaid shortfall will be smaller than the nearly $200 million gap between its funding request and Gov. Mike Beebe’s recommendation for next year.
The department has requested $359 million extra for Medicaid for the budget year that begins July 1, but Beebe’s budget proposal calls for only $160 million in additional funding through general revenue and the state surplus.
Selig said that a smaller growth rate than expected in Medicaid and other savings means the shortfall will be smaller.
Selig planned to detail the shortfall and the proposed cuts to lawmakers Tuesday afternoon.
Comments on: State Medicaid faces 'significant’ cuts in services
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TheBatt says... November 13, 2012 at 8:19 a.m.
Nearly $350Million Shortfall... Consider expansion of Medicaid eligibility...
Does anyone else see the insanity? Where in the world are we going to get an additional $350 Million, much less whatever adding another flood to the Medicaid rolls?
I know what Governor Beebe will want- more taxes.
Where does the insanity end? When the taxpayers are bankrupt, businesses all closed, and tax revenues dry up?
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Testingonetwothree says... November 13, 2012 at 10:21 a.m.
GOP leaders have said they want to address the shortfall before taking up a proposal to expand Medicaid under the federal health care law..............obamacare isnt supposed to increase the cost of medical care......or do you think obama was NOT telling the truth
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lazybar says... November 13, 2012 at 10:58 a.m.
cotton was short and the weeds were tall but king putt gonna save us all
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drs01 says... November 13, 2012 at 11:48 a.m.
Bail out a failing program BEFORE you decide to expand it to another 250,000 "worthy" folks??? And do it at a time when several cities have increased the sales taxes on everything, and the state has their own 1/2 cent for what we are to believe is only for 10 years. Meanwhile the fortunate few left working and paying taxes are seeing their heath care premiums increase along with higher co-pays and deductibles. Even Medicare is doing the same. And you think that expanding this Medicaid program is such a good idea when the current management has a small shortfall of only $350 Million? Most Medicaid "aid" comes with no deductibles or co-pays. What a country! GOP leaders better not cave in to this stupid proposal.
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NoUserName says... November 13, 2012 at 11:49 a.m.
This is what happens when 1/3 (including those in the to-be-expanded) of your state is on Medicaid.
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Nate says... November 13, 2012 at 1:22 p.m.
What this half baked article and intentional lack of details is ACTUALLY shameful bordering on criminal. If you want people to draw honest and informed conclusions at least give them the facts if you are not going to be honest in your reporting and coverage of what is going on with Medicaid! I'm really beginning to understand why a lot people feel the way they feel and if you are going to be FAUX NOISE like in your reporting at least tell the people you simply don't know all of the facts and keep your ink in your barrells until you do. This is so sad.........
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Jackabbott says... November 13, 2012 at 1:28 p.m.
Every time I buy gasoline and groceries, I have to take a cut, so I guess this program will have to take a cut too, unless they can squezze more $$$ out of the 1%.
Expanding a program that already has a short fall is not a good thing to do at this time.
The focus needs to be on economic development and jobs not creating a bigger magnet for illegals.
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HotSpringsLawyer says... November 13, 2012 at 4:38 p.m.
So many are on Medicaid because so many are poor.
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JakeTidmore says... November 13, 2012 at 4:52 p.m.
Medicaid covers children, the aged, blind and/or disabled people, pregnant women who belong to low-income families and World War II / Korean War generation of citizens. This program is designed to meet expenses such as hospital and doctor’s visits, prenatal care, emergency hospitalization and doctor visits, medicinal expenses as well as any other specific treatments prescribed by the doctor. Dental care is also covered under Medicaid and covers treatment such as pain relief, tooth restoration and maintenance of oral hygiene. If any surgery or treatment is discovered during Oral screening of the patient, it is the State Government’s responsibility to ensure that complete treatment is provided to the Medicaid beneficiary.
Medicaid does not pay benefits to individuals directly; Medicaid sends benefit payments to health care providers. In some states Medicaid beneficiaries are required to pay a small fee (co-payment) for medical services. Medicaid is limited by federal law to the coverage of "medically-necessary services".
Medicaid payments currently assist nearly 60 percent of all nursing home residents and about 37 percent of all childbirths in the United States. The federal government pays on average 57 percent of Medicaid expenses. In 2008, Medicaid provided health coverage and services to approximately 49 million low-income children, pregnant women, elderly people, and disabled people.
Figure that close to 45% of those cared for by Medicaid are children. However, figure a lot of the expense goes to covering the elderly when you calculate per person.
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DontDrinkDatKoolAid says... November 13, 2012 at 6:09 p.m.
All that money was spent a long time ago.
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Jackabbott says... November 13, 2012 at 7:35 p.m.
If Tidemore stats are correct(and who knows) and 37% of childbirths are coverd by Medicad then this is a sex education and culture problem not a health issue per se.
If you are old enough to have childern, then you should be able to afford to have them and not depend upon the state to support your childern.
Most elderly people if they worked in their life time should be receiving Medicare benefits.
The focus has got to be on economic development and jobs and getting a handle on illegals otherwise this program will eat us up alive.
I was in Texas recently and read in the Dallas Morning News that over $100 million dollars in Medicad funds went to Dentists who were providing braces to children on Medicad whether they needed them or not.
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Populist says... November 13, 2012 at 8:04 p.m.
Arkansas has more than its fair share of poor people. This is why it is so ludicrous for the people of Arkansas to favor cutting federal aid. The people in the blue states are subsidizing the red states. Blue states are laughing about the talk of secession and are saying "Bring it on!"
I have been preaching teen programs against having babies and free birth control for 20 years. In areas of the country where the schools are good, the kids are not having babies. Maybe computers for the teens is a good idea. If they are on the computer, they are not making babies.
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Packman says... November 13, 2012 at 8:43 p.m.
Hey Populist - "I have been preaching teen programs against having babies....." Sadly, you do not practice what you preach. Liberal social policies implemented over the past 20 years have created a culture where it is more important to get a government check than a quality education. In this liberal cultivated culture, the quickest and surest way to get a government check is unwed pregnancy and childbirth. You proudly admitted to voting for BH Obama and his accompanying failed and failing social policies that actually encourage unwed teenage motherhood. You really don't get it, do you. Alas.
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cliffcarson says... November 13, 2012 at 9:43 p.m.
Notice its Beebe not the Federal Government that is asking for the money. As a matter of fact the Federal Government will pick up expansion costs 100% for the first three years and only 10% of the additional costs after that is to be borne by the state.
So maybe we should be writing Beebe and asking for an explanation. Whatever his response that $350 million is not for the expansion of the program.
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T6 says... November 13, 2012 at 10:27 p.m.
Ohioans’ food stamp aid to be reduced by the USDA
Benefit to fall $50 a month starting in January
toledoblade. com/State/2012/11/12/Ohioans-food-stamp-aid-to-be-cut.html
Uh Oh!!! Didn't people say Romney would cut Food Stamps. What!!!!!! Obama's USDA is going to. Say it ain't so!!!!!
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