No Medicaid Cuts in Oklahoma...For Now

Gov. Brad Henry OKs bills to put budget deal into action
Funds to prevent trooper furloughs, reverse medicaid provider rate cuts
BY MICHAEL MCNUTT The Oklahoman
Published: March 6, 2010

Gov. Brad Henry quietly signed bills Friday that complete a budget agreement that takes care of a nearly $300 million projected deficit at the end of this fiscal year. The bills’ approval provides emergency funds to head off trooper furloughs and reverse recently announced Medicaid provider rate cuts of 3.5 percent.

Bills signed Friday by the governor included emergency funding for several agencies:

• Corrections: $7.2 million
• Public safety: $3 million
• Public schools: $54.4 million
• Higher education: $25.6 million
• Health Care Authority: $33 million
• House Bill 1017 Education Fund: $50 million
• Rehabilitative Services Department: $1.2 million
• Central Services Department: $700,000 (to replace boilers in the Will Rogers and Sequoyah office buildings)

The governor signed 20 bills that implement the agreement through appropriations and funding transfers.

The budget agreement calls for spending $223.5 million of the state’s savings account — the Rainy Day Fund — and using $181 million of about $696 million in available federal stimulus funds to close out the 2010 fiscal year, which ends June 30.

Read more: http://newsok.com/article/3444382#ixzz0hSHu95rU.

South Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas Medicaid Cuts

From Kaiser Daily Health News (sent by Marsha Katz)

South Carolina, Oklahoma and Arkansas Grapple With Medicaid Cuts To Help Balance Budget

[Mar 03, 2010]

States consider major cuts to Medicaid services and reimbursement rates to help fill gaps in the budget.

The Associated Press: "Lawmakers are considering cutting all services for nearly 26,000 people with disabilities as South Carolina tries to plug a $560 million budget hole. Parents say the proposed cuts to day care programs and other services would force them to give up much-needed jobs to stay home and care for their young and adult children." But "[l]awmakers say they have little choice. They are trying to close a shortfall in next year's budget in a heavily Republican state where tax increases are not considered a viable option" (Davenport, 3/3).

McKnight's Long-Term Care News: "Starting April 1, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority is reducing Medicaid reimbursements to nursing homes by 3.25%. While the reduction is expected to save the Medicaid agency $5 million, it also will result in the loss of $15 million in federal matching dollars, according to a Tulsa World report. Long-term care and other healthcare providers that serve Medicaid patients will face the same payment cut" (3/1).

Arkansas News: "Suggestions received by the state on how to reduce future Medicaid costs by up to $400 million are being placed on the Internet for public viewing, and the state Medicaid director said today he hopes to finalize a recommendation to the governor this spring. Everything from cuts to Medicaid providers to charging Medicaid recipients additional co-payments is being considered, said Gene Gessow, director of the Division of Medical Services for the state Department of Human Services" (Moritz, 3/2).