Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Child Insurance Program May Face Crunch   Las Vegas Sun story - "A government program that provides health insurance for poor children could run into money problems in several states over the next two years unless Congress acts. Six to 14 states will use up their share of federal money for the State Children's Health Insurance Program during the 2006 budget year, according to a report by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. By the next year, that number will range from 12 to 20 states. The range occurs because analysts looked at two scenarios. One projected low demand for the program; the second factored in high demand..."  
  

Federal Medicaid Commission Named; Former Tennessee Governor To Lead Panel Item in the Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report - "HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt on Friday announced 13 voting members and 15 nonvoting members of a federal Medicaid commission that will be charged with recommending short- and long-term reforms to the program... The committee, created as a result of negotiations over the fiscal year 2006 federal budget, will be required to submit two reports. The first, which must be submitted by Sept. 1, will include recommendations on how to reduce Medicaid spending growth by $10 billion over the next five years. The second report, due Dec. 31, 2006, will include recommendations for stabilizing Medicaid over the long term..."