Medicaid Reform Must Happen Now

Uncontrolled Medicaid spending is sinking the budget, literally. Locally, the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board budgets over $1,000,000 to pay its 30% share of costs. Yet the Board has no say whatsoever in the quality of the services, the outcome of the services, or whether the service is appropriate. Even state oversight is minimal.

Yet, an unscrupulous provider can deliver as much therapy as they want without regard for level of care or whether the cost of the service is proportional to the result.

The Mental Health Board has received bills for services delivered to a residential client for 10 or even 15 hours in a single day. We ask, "What difference has this made?"

No one at the state level, where some controls in the Medicaid Benefit could make a difference in quality, outcome and cost, is concerned.

But no one at the state has a problem with gutting our local care system $2,200,000.

This is wrong! A simple benefit package that assures that people receive services based on their need - not because they have an entitlement - is the answer.

Our issue is not to deny services but rather to deliver the right service in the right amount.

Please call or write Keith Faber, Matt Huffman, Cliff Hite, and John Adams today. Tell them that Medicaid is costing us the loss of desperately needed services. State Medicaid Reform needs to happen now.

Mike Schoenhofer