Monday, May 16, 2005

Vilsack signs state Medicaid reform bill (Iowa)Quad City Times story - "Gov. Tom Vilsack signed into law an unprecedented reform of the state’s Medicaid program Thursday, an overhaul that will make scores more Iowans eligible for health-care coverage under the program. Iowa is the first in the nation to attempt such reforms, and state officials are optimistic the changes to the health-care program for the poor and disabled will be successful. ... State officials were forced to take a look at the program when they faced a loss of close to $65 million each year in federal funding, as officials cracked down on an accounting practice used by Iowa and other states to qualify for more federal dollars. To keep from losing that money, the reforms would qualify Iowans getting health care at state expense for Medicaid. That would mean a share of the cost for their care would picked up by the federal government. Vilsack said the new program will help take some of the burden of charity care off Iowa hospitals and clinics that provide it. "