Medicaid to take hit under plan

[True_Blue]

The state's health agency would take a nearly $200 million financial hit if President George Bush's budget proposal wins congressional approval, a top Louisiana Medicaid official said Friday.

That's just under one provision that calls for a reduction in the dollars states can generate from provider fees, which are an added tax imposed on certain health-care entities.

"We don't know what else is hidden in there (the Bush budget)," Medicaid deputy director Jerry Phillips said Friday.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Fred Cerise said he is concerned about limiting the provider fees, which are important to funding Medicaid, the government's major health insurance program for the poor and uninsured.

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http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/021205/new_medicaid001.shtml