Archive for the 'Medicaid' Category

State budget cuts a taste of more to come

By Diana Birkett Rakow

The Washington State Legislature held a one-day special session on Saturday, Dec. 11, to address an anticipated billion dollar shortfall in the current operating budget. Lawmakers enacted a pre-negotiated set of budget bills that cut the anticipated shortfall by approximately $700 million.

The cuts made in this special session spared some state-funded health care programs from being completely eliminated for now, but that may have to change as lawmakers come back to address an expected $5 billion shortfall in the 2011-2013 budget.  We know the Legislature will have even tougher decisions to make when it reconvenes in January.  Continue reading ‘State budget cuts a taste of more to come’

Published on December 14, 2010 in Health Care Reform, Medicaid and Medicaid. 9 Comments Tags: , .

States need federal support to “bridge” to health reform

By Diana Birkett Rakow

Medicaid, the health care coverage program for low-income individuals, is administered at the state level but funded jointly by the state and federal governments: for every dollar spent by the states for Medicaid, the federal government kicks in a matching amount, according to the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for that state.

The stimulus bill Congress passed in early 2009 included a provision that temporarily increased the FMAP for all states, aiming to help states make it through the economic downturn when less tax revenue is generated and more people are likely to enroll in support programs like Medicaid.

Continue reading ‘States need federal support to “bridge” to health reform’

Published on July 12, 2010 in Health Care Reform and Medicaid. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Beyond the politics of Dr. Berwick’s nomination: Cost solutions require evidence

By Eric Larson, MD, MPH

As controversy smolders in the other Washington over the nomination of Dr. Donald Berwick to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), some here may be wondering: What’s not to like?

As president of the Institute for Health Innovation (IHI), the Harvard professor has successfully shown health organizations can improve patient care and safety—and decrease costs. Nationwide, he has helped providers adopt science-based approaches to reduce medical errors, increase efficiency, and improve outcomes. Such experience, along with his leadership and vision, could bring needed transformation to CMS. The agency manages a third of all U.S. health care spending—and will implement much of the new health reform law, including the creation of a new CMS Center for Innovation to explore new care and payment models to boost quality and control cost.

Continue reading ‘Beyond the politics of Dr. Berwick’s nomination: Cost solutions require evidence’

Published on July 1, 2010 in Health Care Reform, Medicaid, Medicare and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , .