Governors say cost shifting isn't true Medicaid reform.The nation's governors are warning the federal government not to simply shift Medicaid costs to states to cut ballooning ballooning Flying in a balloon in competition or for recreation. Sport ballooning began in the early 20th century and became popular in the 1960s. The balloons used are of lightweight synthetic materials (e.g. federal deficits and finance priorities of President Bush's second term, such as Social Security reform. In a letter to House and Senate leaders, Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee  This article or section contains information about one or more candidates in an upcoming or ongoing election.Content may change as the election approaches. , chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of the National Governors Association (NGA Noun 1. NGA - a combat support agency that provides geographic intelligence in support of national security National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency ), wrote that Medicaid reform is governors' highest priority but that it "should not be part of a 2006 fiscal year budget reduction and reconciliation process, especially if it does nothing more than shift additional costs to states." The governors said their commitment to Medicaid cost-effectiveness is reflected in the fact that the annual growth in Medicaid per capita [Latin, By the heads or polls.] A term used in the Descent and Distribution of the estate of one who dies without a will. It means to share and share alike according to the number of individuals. spending has not exceeded approximately 4.5% per year, substantially less than the growth rate of private health insurance premiums (averaging 12.5% per year for the past three years). Although they recognized that total Medicaid costs are growing at 12% per year and that Medicaid expenditures now exceed those of Medicare, they cited two reasons for this growth, which they said are largely beyond states' control. First, states have experienced caseload case·load n. The number of cases handled in a given period, as by an attorney or by a clinic or social services agency. caseload Noun increases of approximately 33% during the past four years. Second, and more costly to states, they said, has been the impact of long-term care long-term care (LTC), n the provision of medical, social, and personal care services on a recurring or continuing basis to persons with chronic physical or mental disorders. and the dual eligible population. Regarding the latter, they said the dual eligible population's benefits should be 100% financed by Medicare. "We agree that maintaining the status quo [Latin, The existing state of things at any given date.] Status quo ante bellum means the state of things before the war. The status quo to be preserved by a preliminary injunction is the last actual, peaceable, uncontested status which preceded the pending controversy. in Medicaid is not acceptable," wrote Warner and Huckabee. "However, it is equally unacceptable in any deficit reduction strategy to simply shift federal costs to states, as Medicaid continues to impose severe strains on state budgets." This month President Bush will reveal his FY 2006 budget, and the NGA will hold a major working session on Medicaid reform at its winter meeting. BY DOUGLAS J. EDWARDS, ASSISTANT EDITOR |
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