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Legislature Tries to Tackle Medicaid Issue 2006-06-14 22:36:42

Wednesday, June 14, 2006, 4:38 P.M.
Arie

On Wednesday, June 14 the newly organized Medicaid Interim Committee met for the first time. The purpose of this committee is to grapple with the thorny issue of Medicaid--a service which grows routinely 10 percent a year and which the federal government is cutting year after year as the federal deficit gets larger and larger. The legislative committee will be looking to strike a balance between what the state can provide and should provide. Of course, public health, mental health, and aging services--all administered by the counties--rely on Medicaid funds for support, so UAC will be an active participant throughout the life of the committee.

This month's meeting was informational in nature. Several members of legislative staff gave tutorials on the complicated issues associated with Medicaid. Some of the stats they shared that I found interesting include:


  • Medicaid's share of Utah's total General Funds and school funds doubles every 16 years. Currently Medicaid makes up 6.9 percent of the total.
  • Medicaid grows in Utah about 10 percent every year (although growth for FY 2007 was just 2 percent).
  • Optional elements accounted for 58 percent ($809 million) of Utah's Medicaid spending last year.
  • Utah ranks 12th out of 50 in states that offer the most optional services.
  • Based on Utah's low per capita income (due to Utah's high birth rate), only four states receive a greater federal match than Utah's 2.47.

    • Much more background information is available at the committee's Website (look under Related Materals for the June 14 meeting).

    County officials will want to follow this one closely.

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