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More Women And Children Enrolling In Medicaid
July 22, 2009
Florida’s battered economy appears to be pushing up the number of women and children enrolling in Medicaid, the safety net health care program for the poor.
State economists spent the early part of the week going over new forecasts for both the Medicaid program – which is funded with a combination of state and federal money – and KidCare, the state-subsidized children’s health insurance program.
Those latest forecasts show an 8 percent growth in the number of pregnant women who are below the poverty line and enrolled in Medicaid during the fiscal year that ended on June 30. But that growth is expected to surge to nearly 15 percent in the coming year.
The numbers are even more dramatic for children. Economists adopted forecasts proposed by the Agency for Health Care Administration that show nearly 100,000 more children are expected to enroll in Medicaid between now and June 2010. That’s a nearly 20 percent jump. Forecasts adopted back in February showed a projected 11 percent increase in the number of children for the current fiscal year.
Economic and Demographic Research senior analyst James LaCrosse said the increase in caseload is “slightly higher” than anticipated. He attributed the caseload increase in part to the economy.
“We don’t know why they are there for sure,” LaCrosse said, adding that “some of it is the economy.”
Costing more than $17 billion, Medicaid is one of the largest expenses in the state budget.
While increases in Medicaid population could impact the state’s budget, Florida got a huge boost this year from increased federal funding as part of the stimulus package. Plus, some of the most expensive portions of Medicaid include funding for nursing homes and prescription drugs. Economists, however, are not expected to draw up new Medicaid spending forecasts until early August.
The new Medicaid and KidCare forecasts will be used to prepare the state’s 3-year financial outlook that must be approved annually by lawmakers. Last week they studied the state’s economy and made new forecasts for lottery ticket sales that showed a slight decline.
New forecasts adopted on Monday also included a projected 11 percent increase in the number of children in Healthy Kids, a component of KidCare that offers insurance to families who make too much to qualify for Medicaid. Economists projected that nearly 2,400 more children will enroll in Healthy Kids between now and June 2010. Some of that growth is due to changes authorized by SB 918, which reduced the waiting period to get into Healthy Kids from 6 months to 60 days.
New projections suggest that KidCare will exceed its target population of 266,654 children by January 2010 due to the growth.
Comments
4 Responses to “More Women And Children Enrolling In Medicaid”
The medicaid program is there to do good for the children and disabled adults of the United States of America.
There are parents out there who have fell on hard times and the program is designed to be there for them, giving them a helping hand for however long they need it until they get back on their feet.
We all know that the medicaid program is being taken advantage of by many parents who aren’t even trying to do the right thing and by doctors, hospitals and pharmacies. That is where the government needs to thoroughly investigate those and hold them accountable. However, there are many good doctors, hospitals and pharmacies who are abiding by the Medicaid guidelines and are doing the right thing, so not everyone is crooked.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that their are good people and their are bad people in all aspects of life here in the United States. If you are one of those who live off the system when you really don’t have too, you should really be ashamed!
If you are one of the unfortunate that have no other choice, then that’s what it’s there for. I’m sure you too were once upon a time a productive tax payer yourself and contributed into the system, so that if it ever came a time you needed the help, there it is.
I personally would like to say “THANK YOU” to all the taxpayers who make it possible for those who really need it to have it!
Blame the Judges, Blame the system, Blame whoever it is that can not do there job on making Deadbeat parents pay childsupport yes florida please stand up for that because lots of single parents fight everyday with the system to help make the deadbeat parents pay but they dont. So yes i guess thats why single parents are at the Drs getting meds to sell. isnt that why the state gives us all these meds because they cant do there jobs and make deadbeat parents do there job. also not all people on medicaid have all there children on it some people once had jobs with health ins.
Yes its true. Not maybe judges should really think about not sending some of these womens husbands to prison instead giving probation they would have to pay for that maybe house arrest they could pay for that and save taxpayers on childcare. well i guess that would only work for some people though. I think everyone should get what they can from state or govt its there own fault. Judges think women can handle everything ok if they send there husbands to prison they know with a income lost people are going to need help. so if Im wrong Im wrong my family and i have worked hard for years its time for people to have a break. And noone is complaing about taking care of the billings kids dont they get some kind of state or govt help. All children should be treated with the same respect. and why not take care of children in our own country? I guess they are not good enough for you. I hate i brought the Billings Name in this I am sorry Im sure that there neighbors kids are treated the same.
I know women who have had 3 or more babies on medicaid. They collect foodstamps, wic, medicaid, child support etc. They go to the methadone clinic everyday free, standing in line, pregnant, to get their daily dose of methadone. Then, they get high risk, special treatment pregnancy, because they are on methadone.
ALL ON OUR TAX DOLLARS.
When is Florida going to say enough? I think that after you have a baby paid for on medicaid from us taxpayers, you should not be allowed to have another baby on medicaid.
It is like a lucrative business for these women. Have more kids, get more free stuff from the state.