Hall: Medicaid reform should not be limited to expansion
When the Legislature gavels to a close in April, odds are the Division of Medicaid will operate exactly as it does today.
And that’s too bad.
Christie Herrera, vice president of policy for the Foundation for Government Accountability, is opposed to Medicaid expansion, at least immediately. But she is also against doing nothing.
“Medicaid is a leaky boat. You need to plug the holes before you expand,” she said. “But just because you don’t expand, it doesn’t mean you should do nothing.”
Herrera, who ran a health and human services task force for the American Legislative Exchange Council, is focused on Medicaid reforms in Florida that have served as a template for measures in Louisiana, Kansas and other states.
In 2011, Florida lawmakers passed Medicaid Cure, which moves recipients into HMOs, other managed health plans and nonprofit provider plans. The idea behind Medicaid Cure was to save the state money while leveraging private sector benefits for improved patient care.
Sam Hall
Clarion Ledger
3/14/13
Magnolia Tribune
