State Health Watch Archives – June 1, 2009
June 1, 2009
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Take a leadership role in this 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' for Medicaid HIT
State Medicaid directors may have taken a close look at implementing health information technology (HIT) for some time now, but in large part these investments have been held back due to budget problems. However, the economic stimulus package is jump-starting many of these shelved plans. -
Fiscal Fitness: How States Cope: California Medicaid struggles to hold on with projected $8 billion deficit
Many optional services already have been cut, several of the planned provider rate reductions can't be enacted due to court injunctions, and eligibility can't be cut. In addition, the state faces a projected budget deficit of $8 billion over the next 16 months. This is the dire situation that California's Medi-Cal program is currently facing. -
Idaho's pilot program aims for reduced costs, improved quality
"We are excited about the opportunities identified in the stimulus package related to HIT," says Leslie Clement, Idaho's Medicaid administrator. "HIT provides the opportunity to transform our current high-cost health care environment into a more efficient and effective system." -
Georgia shares lessons learned from evaluating, implementing HIT
Rhonda M. Medows, MD, FAAFP, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), says that the stimulus funding "provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen our Medicaid and SCHIP program HIT efforts." -
HIT evaluation process 'must start with the Medicaid director'
According to Anthony Rodgers, director of the state of Arizona Medicaid/SCHIP programs, "the unprecedented amount of money that the federal government has put out for investing in electronic health records and health information exchange infrastructure is a significant opportunity for states and providers to become 21st century health care delivery systems, with the ability to exchange data. It's a huge opportunity." -
Programs have success in targeting Medicaid fraud
Detecting and identifying Medicaid fraud and abuse always has been a concern and challenge for states, but with some states looking at reducing administrative burdens for providers, the door to increased fraud could be unintentionally opened. -
Cuts to Medicaid restored as result of stimulus
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) includes $87 billion in additional temporary federal funding for Medicaid in the form of enhanced federal Medicaid matching funds (FMAP). However, if a state imposes more restrictive eligibility standards, or methods or procedures used to determine eligibility, than the state had in place on July 1, 2008, the state is ineligible for enhanced FMAP.