The Raleigh Report
From the Office of Cullie Tarleton
September 7, 2010
One of the fastest growing parts of the state budget is Medicaid, the health plan for poor people who need extra help covering their medical costs. Since fiscal year 2000, the state’s budget for medical expenses associated with Medicaid, including federal dollars, has increased from $4.8 billion to $9.9 billion. The state and local share of those costs during that time has grown from roughly $1.8 billion to $2.3 billion. The original budget for this fiscal year called for an increase in this line item to $2.7 billion. The increased cost of Medicaid can be attributed to many things, including population growth, an aging population, rising medical costs and the recent economic downturn. Still, faced with balancing a budget without raising taxes, my colleagues and I identified several cost cutting measures this year that kept the budget essentially flat while still providing service to those who need some help getting through difficult times. This week, I wanted to share some of our recent work in this area with you.
If you have any questions or if I can be of service to you, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. Thank you as always for your interest in North Carolina and state government.
Efficiencies
The state approved a number of measures this year intended to help trim Medicaid costs. These efficiency measures include:
-
Authorizing the Department of Health and Human Services to require prior authorization for brand name drugs for which the phrase "medically necessary" is written on the prescription.
-
Allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to prevent the substitution of generic drugs for brand name drugs if after consideration of all rebates the cost is less than the generic.
-
Requiring that medications prescribed for mental illness are included on the Preferred Drug List. This measure, in addition to the previous two, is expected to save at least $10 million in drug costs.
-
Limiting coverage to procedures recognized or approved by the National Institutes of Health.
-
Directing the department to apply Medicaid medical policy to recipients who have primary insurance other than Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid.
Read full report
See previous reports archive...
To find out more about Cullie Tarleton's activities as your State House Representative, introduced bills, committee involvement, and voting record, please visit the North Carolina General Assembly website.
Contact
me with your comments, ideas, and suggestions.
I want to hear from you!
Hear what others have to say about Cullie and add your name and comments to our list of supporters!
Thank
You For Your Vote & Support!
|
Paid
for by Cullie Tarleton for NC State House Committee, John W. Calvin,
Treasurer
|
|
