The state's Medicaid budget problem is getting worse.
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Lanier Cansler told a legislative committee last week that the budget may be $250 million short by the end of the year. The shortage is the result of a combination of factors including increased enrollment and difficulty getting federal approval for cost-saving measures included in this year's Medicaid budget.
"Trying to right this ship is one of the most difficult things I've ever done," Cansler told lawmakers at a government operations meeting Wednesday.
Cansler said the legislature may have to consider eliminating coverage for optional services such as chiropractors, transplants, hospice or respiratory therapy for children.
State Rep. Mickey Michaux, a Durham Democrat and key budget writer in the House had pointed questions for Cansler about why the budget wasn't working. Michaux said the legislature created the budget using figures supplied by Cansler's agency.
"You came to us last year. We put your figures in the budget. Now you're telling us the numbers we put in the budget for you are not going to happen," Michaux said.
Cansler told Michaux that the department's budget estimates were realistic, but that a series of factors have led to the deficit.
Comments
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Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 27, 2010 - 8:29am — cmacpduffOur State Medicaid system is a mess because it gives too many benefits to the Federally mandated groups, while denying others desperately in need.
NC has no Medicaid coverage for serious illnesses like Traumatic Brain Injury or Renal Failure - unless those adults can qualify under the standard poverty rules. A moderate check from VA or S.S. Disability,will put you perpetually over the State's poverty limits, - even though the monthly costs of medication/treatment are more than one's income. Medicaid approval is also needed to pay for in home care giving so family members can work. The State is presently adding approval restrictions on it's 2 none Federally mandated groups - Medically needy and Long term Care, and shortening the time allowed to complete applications. There are 10's of thousands of NC families with severely disabled adults loosing the battle to stay afloat without Medicaid. I had to take my brain injured/Alzheimer's husband home last month after his Medicare coverage expired at the skilled facility. His Medicare premiums and out of pocket drug costs are more than our income.
Medicaid is our State's safety net for thousands of families with severely ill loved ones. Those with undocumented work incomes are a 'shoe-in' for approval. NC Medicaid is a mess and in crisis. There is too much coverage for some, while others are dying without any.
Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 26, 2010 - 5:19pm — ForReaganYou are obviously misinformed. Typical liberal response.
You have no problem with the state spending like Obie in D.C. right? So, when they buy all that art work for the police station and do all their studies, and then have no money left over to supplement the Medicaid that they didn't properly budget for, you are going to blame the ones that are criticizing their gambling of taxpayer's money. Do you pay taxes? Don't answer because it doesn't matter. A liberal always finds fault with anyone that doesn't agree with them. Are you going to blame Bush too? If they don't know how to handle taxpayer money properly, then they shouldn't be in charge. It's NOT their money, it's ours.
So, quit getting all indignant and stop crying. The state gov hosed up and now we have to pay for it.
Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 26, 2010 - 12:25pm — fishguyMany of you geniuses seem to speak without knowing anything about Medicaid -- especially the fact that it is the only way to pay for nursing home care for the aged and disabled. And what about the mentally ill -- young disabled kids with little or no ability to work due autism, Down's and other diabaling diseases they never asked for.
Those statements fall just below Rush and PAt R. and their anti Haiti rhetoric.
Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 25, 2010 - 8:04pm — atumolocsaCouple of points. First, why would anyone who is on Medicaid get any money back from their income taxes is beyond me. Second, if you are on Medicaid and you are a drug addict getting treatments, you should have to be drug tested on a regular basis. Fail a test and lose your Medicaid. Third, how on earth can the budget deficit be that far off. Whoever is looking after this, should be terminated.
Re: Not A Constitutional Right Re: Medicaid budget problems lo
January 25, 2010 - 6:13pm — teepackI think one thing we should consider is charging consumers more when they access health care for conditions that are highly preventable - i.e.those related to smoking or obesity or eating a bad diet. To me, the problems in our health care system do not rely among providers but instead are problems with consumers. Too many people want to live an unhealthy lifestyle, and then have their insuraance pay the majority of the cost for their various pills and surgeries. Why should my insurance rates continue to go up because others insist on smoking, eating a bad diet, not exercising, etc.? Let's charge them more for the same coverage and then when they improve their lifestyles, they get a discount. Car insurance companies give you a discount if you don't have any accidents. Why can't health insurance companies give those of us who don't have to access the health-care system for anything other than routine issues a discount, too?
Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 25, 2010 - 5:13pm — aow0526Health care reform needs to happen, You pay for it now or you can keep paying for it through rises in your own health insurance and fees. What I never saw addressed and is a real problem are the people that abuse Emergency Departments. Medicaid patients come in quite frequently and a fair portion do need to be seen. Medicaid patients coming for complaints easily handled by a PMD or an urgent care are wasting our money as noted by the budget not being met. It costs me 250$ to walk into an ED and not a cent upfront for medicaid. Start making medicaid patients use resources appropriately will help balance the budget.
Not A Constitutional Right Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 25, 2010 - 3:32pm — mike27513So what the Big Government folks don't understand that Health Care is not a Constitutional Right.
Prices rise because of increased demand. The Government Programs have RAISED the cost of Healthcare by inserting a Government payer [the taxpayer] which has increased demand and does not control costs.
So if you cant afford health insurance - you pay out of pocket.
Or you go on the Charity roles.
Nationalized health care NEVER works [I know, I lived in Europe]
Welcome to the real world.
Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 25, 2010 - 2:59pm — NCDEERSLAYERCould this be the same medicaid that da bama care wants to add millions of people to the plan? Why yes it is ollie! To think, if the voters in Massachussets had not sent a message last week what would we do? Oh wait a minute, I forgot. That message appears to have not been delivered to whom it was sent. The demonrats are behind closed doors as we speak attempting to please the chosen one with yet another version of that which, We THE PEOPLE, want nothing of. Hey nancy and harry! The next message might not be as serene as the one from last week. Get your resumes updated soon or has the great one already promised a nice post in some far away playland?
Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 25, 2010 - 1:28pm — YankeeMonsterHey purdue et all...
How u gonna pay for this??? You already owe the feds $1B+ for the money you borrowed to pay un-employment.
So why don't you join the 18 other red states that have promised law suites against the illegal obama*care bill that will bankrupt the states via medi*caid???
Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 25, 2010 - 1:18pm — ForReaganBut hey, how about we purchase a few million bucks worth of art for a police station, or spend some bucks on a study on wind mills and solar farms. These things will boost the economy and create jobs...NOT!
Is this anything like having an education lottery to pay for our great schools? A lottery that is supposed to take the place of taxes? The great lottery that would certainly keep us from firing hundreds of teachers?
How about a study for street cars for Charlotte?
Maybe Perdue can take another $80K trip to China and get us some more business.
So answer this, how much of the dedicated funds were "borrowed" to pay for other ideas? We know that the gov uses our Soc.Sec money. Even Clinton balanced the budget, partly by borrowing our SocSec money. So, don't say it doesn't happen. Yes, republicans have done this also.
So, if you are going to have a social program, you are going to have to provide for it and budget for it. That means, trash some of your other spending ideas until next year. What's so hard about that?
Don't even think about raising taxes any more. NC residents are generous but we also don't like wasteful spending. Get it right, or find another job.
Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 25, 2010 - 1:00pm — adamsearingTry talking to all the people this year finding out that their company has had to increase their deductibles and coinsurance by $1000, $2000, or more because of rising health costs. Medicaid's funding problems merely mirror what's happening in health care generally. We've got to get costs under control whether in a government program or for private health insurance.
It's just under Medicaid, where the majority of people covered are either low-income children, low-income elderly, or low-income severely disabled people, that the option is eliminating services since these folks don't have any money to get charged more - just like more and more people with private insurance.
All the more reason for health reform - not less.
Shocked, Shocked, I tell You! Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 25, 2010 - 11:52am — mike27513I'm Shocked, Shocked, I tell You!
Another Democrat Socialist Welfare Program Bankrupt?
Oh Yes, Just some more - Change We Can Believe In!
[insert Sarcasm here]
Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 25, 2010 - 11:34am — FreedomSeekerSurprise suprise! Gov't can't stay on budget. Gov't habitually breaks promises and breaks the bank.
Yet more proof we need less gov't, not more!
Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 25, 2010 - 11:33am — teepackThe Nebraska deal is dead. Former President Clinton had spoken out against it in the weeks leading up to the Massachusetts election last week, and the Senator from Nebraska had already admitted it was going to be taken out of the final healthcare package. Of course, now it appears we won't have a final healthcare package.
Rep. Michaux is upset that the budget submitted by DHHS is not accurate? Is that not the pot calling the kettle black? As Appropriations Senior Chairman, isn't he responsible for the budget numbers the Legislature approved for the state's revenues, which once again grossly overestimated how much money the state would bring it. This is taken straight from a presentation by the general assembly's lead economic person:
"Sales Tax collections remain well below expectations and
withholding income tax continues to weaken."
This has been an ongoing pattern in Raleigh - overestimate revenues to fund all the little projects favored by leadership, and then make huge cuts in the final months of the fiscal year as revenues don't meet targets.
Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 25, 2010 - 10:47am — SouthsideJohnnyCouldn't we ask Obama to give us a deal like he gave to Nebraska? Wouldn't that kind of program help us? If Nebraska got the deal I'm sure we could get the deal. Probably just ask.
Re: Medicaid budget problems loom
January 25, 2010 - 10:42am — PhantomLord"Cansler said the legislature may have to consider eliminating coverage for optional services such as chiropractors, transplants, hospice or respiratory therapy for children."
But no, a government health care system would never ration, reduce, or eliminate treatments.
Isn't that what you Obamabots have been telling us for a year? Why yes, it is.
And it is a LIE.