Monday, November 15, 2004

US threatens to cut $583m in Medicaid (Massachusetts)
Boston Globe story - "The federal government is threatening to cut $583 million it gives Massachusetts for health care for the poor and uninsured, saying the state is getting more than its fair share by violating the financing rules of the Medicaid program, according to state officials. Losing the money, which represents about 9 percent of the Massachusetts Medicaid program, would add significantly to the $1 billion gap between state revenues and spending already predicted for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2005 -- unless the state cuts services or eligibility for Medicaid."  
  

Many worry about change in Medicaid (Georgia)
Jacksonville Times-Union story - "Health-care advocates and doctors are anxious about a proposal to move about a million Medicaid recipients into private plans resembling health maintenance organizations, the state board overseeing public plans was told Wednesday. ... The proposal, unveiled earlier this year by Community Health Commissioner Tim Burgess and championed by Gov. Sonny Perdue, would move a million members of the state's Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids programs to 'care management organizations,' or CMOs..."  
  

Valley Mental Health Sees Increase (Utah)
Story at the KSL NewsRadio web site - "Valley Mental Health has experienced a 48 percent increase in involuntary commitments since the Legislature made it easier for family members top force loved ones to get treatment. Since the Susan Gall Involuntary Commitment Act was passed in 2003, Valley Mental Health has experienced 366 involuntary commitments, compared with 247 in the same time period a year before. The numbers were compiled for a report to the Legislature's Health and Human Services Interim Committee, which asked for a review of the effects of the law."  
  

Mental health services for state's seniors at risk (Maine)
Morning Sentinel story - "Some older Mainers who require mental health services are seeing state-funded treatment fade away. The reason: cuts made in the wake of a state budget crisis. The ramifications: possible legal action against the state. Meanwhile, though, the loss of those services could cause some seniors' conditions to worsen before new money comes available, advocates for senior citizens told lawmakers last week. A range of geriatric mental health services have begun to run out of money, a domino effect resulting from budget cuts pushed through earlier this year by the Baldacci administration, members of the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee were told."