| News outlets report on a variety of health issues at | | | | (Kansas Health Policy) Authority's executive board |
| the state level especially budget cuts and Medicaid | | | | approved $1.13 million in cuts Friday as it copes with |
| funding issues. | | | | budget reductions ordered by Gov. Mark Parkinson in |
| The Honolulu Star-Bulletin reports on budget cuts to the | | | | late November. ... These cuts are in addition to a 10 |
| State Department of Health: "About $40,000 is being | | | | percent cut to all Medicaid provider payments already |
| cut from Gregory House Programs, Hawaii's only | | | | announced. That is expected to save $22 million. 'This |
| statewide HIV/AIDS housing provider (which is 10 | | | | is really a triple hit: We're cutting the reimbursement |
| percent of the budget); $110,000 from two Life | | | | rates we pay to our providers; we're cutting the |
| Foundation prevention contracts; and $157,000 for the | | | | administrative support that helps providers get what |
| Community Health Outreach Work Project to Prevent | | | | little they are supposed to be paid; and we're cutting |
| AIDS. The position of HIV/STD prevention coordinator, | | | | the resources needed to help people get enrolled in |
| held 19 years by Nancy Kern, also is being eliminated | | | | the programs in the first place,' said KHPA board |
| and she is moving to another Health Department | | | | chairman Joe Tilghman" (Koranda,12/5). |
| branch" (Altonn, 12/6). | | | | The Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger reports on budget |
| Belleville News Democrat/The Associated Press | | | | cuts in Mississippi: "Gov. Haley Barbour is whittling |
| reports on children's health insurance in Missouri: "It's | | | | another $54.3 million from the state budget as |
| known as 'Express Lane Eligibility' — an effort to put | | | | revenues continue to fall, but Mississippi's remaining |
| children on the fast track for government-run health | | | | $160 million shortfall likely will be addressed in January |
| care coverage. But in Missouri, the Express Lane has | | | | after the legislative session begins. ... The cuts |
| become the slow lane. Documents obtained by The | | | | Thursday include a 5 percent reduction to most |
| Associated Press show the Missouri Department of | | | | agencies and programs, including Medicaid, which will |
| Social Services recommended the adoption this spring | | | | take the hit in February. Barbour said he allowed the |
| of a half-dozen measures intended to enroll more | | | | delay in order to give physicians and other providers |
| children in government health care programs for low- | | | | time to adjust to the decrease in state payments" |
| and middle-income families. With winter now | | | | (Crisp, 12/4). |
| approaching, none of those recommendations has | | | | The (West Lafayette, Ind.) Journal and Courier/Gannett |
| been implemented" (Lieb, 12/6). | | | | Washington Bureau: "Indiana can't afford a proposed |
| The Baltimore Business Journal reports on efforts in | | | | expansion of Medicaid, even if the federal government |
| Maryland to shuffle health care dollars to fund Medicaid | | | | picks up most of the cost, Gov. Mitch Daniels said |
| and cover the uninsured: "State health officials have | | | | today. The expansion is included in health care |
| tapped a $15 million surplus in Maryland's senior | | | | overhaul legislation moving through Congress. ... Not |
| prescription drug program to help fund swelling | | | | every governor sees the bill the same way. A |
| Medicaid enrollment. The Maryland Board of Public | | | | spokesman for Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a |
| Works approved the fund transfer Nov. 18, along with | | | | Democrat whose state is in worse financial shape |
| $362 million in overall state budget cuts. The move is | | | | than Indiana, has said the Medicaid expansion wouldn't |
| the latest attempt by state health officials to preserve | | | | overburden the state's budget, and doing nothing would |
| funding for Medicaid, the government-run health | | | | be worse. Expanding Medicaid, the federal-state health |
| insurance program for the poor, and chip away at | | | | insurance program for the poor and disabled, is a |
| Maryland's growing ranks of the uninsured" (Dash, 12 | | | | primary way lawmakers aim to shrink the number of |
| 4). | | | | uninsured Americans" (Groppe, 12/4). |
| The Kansas City Star reports on Medicaid cuts: "The | | | | |