Friday, April 11, 2008

Medicaid Exceeding Budget in Ohio

State still pressing an expansion

By Marc Kilmer

Categories: Medicaid, Ohio

Sometimes state fiscal irresponsibility is pretty glaring. Take the case of Ohio's Medicaid program as reported by the Gongwer News Service($):

Underspending on the managed care side of Ohio's $12 billion-plus annual Medicaid program has offset some fiscal pressures caused by high caseload, but officials still project the entitlement to be $400 million over budget by the end of the biennium, lawmakers were told Thursday.

So what to do when spending is exceeding the budgeted amount? Seek to expand the program's eligibility, of course!

Since the federal government rejected Ohio's plans to cover children at 200-300% poverty through the Medicaid/State Children's Health Insurance Program, the state has submitted two additional proposals to cover children in families up to 250% and expects to hear back by May 15, Mr. Corlett said.

I discussed the foolishness of this approach back in February.