Monday, June 9, 2008

Small Steps in the Right Direction for NJ

Co-payments, income verification being considered

By Marc Kilmer

Categories: Medicaid, New Jersey

In response to a state audit that found that the state Medicaid system was paying for medical care for people who earned almost $300,000 a year, the legislature is considering legislation to verify recipients' income.

The governor is also pushing for small co-payments for some Medicaid recipients, although that proposal is likely to be killed.

While these types of proposals are merely tinkering around the edges of a dysfunctional Medicaid system, they are commendable proposals. Ensuring income fraud does not exist and making recipients pay a small portion of their own medical expenses should be present in every Medicaid program.