State panel recommends community-based managed care for Medicaid reform [The Anniston Star, Ala.]
By Tim Lockette, The Anniston Star, Ala. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
If adopted by the governor and
"Nobody's saying we're going to need less money next year," said state Health Officer
For the past few months, Williamson has headed a 16-member panel appointed by Gov.
The total cost of the state's program is in the billions, with only a portion of that money coming out of the state budget. The cost to the state has skyrocketed over recent years as a struggling economy resulted in more people placed on the
Bentley appointed the panel to find reforms that could trim the program's cost, which took up
The board considered two options. One would have turned
The other option was a community-based care network, in which local entities create systems to monitor and manage patient costs, in much the same way as a commercial managed-care company.
Both options were projected to save the state money, said
Neither option means that
"We concentrate on basic care," he said. "We try not to manage the money, but to manage the care."
But commission members remained skeptical of the commercial approach. Rep
On a voice vote, the commission voted overwhelmingly to approve the community care approach. Williamson said there was only one vote against --
It wasn't clear how many members abstained from the vote.
The commission's plan would divide the state into
The vote is just the beginning of potential reform for the
The change would also require the state to get a waiver to deviate from current federal
"This was the easy part," he said of the Wednesday vote.
Capitol & statewide correspondent: 256-294-4193. On Twitter @TLockette_Star.
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