Kaiser Daily Health Policy Repor Examines Budget Developments In Colorado, Rhode Island

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Seniors / Aging;  Caregivers / Homecare;  Public Health
Article Date: 27 Apr 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Summaries below highlight developments related to budgets in Colorado and Rhode Island.

• Colorado: The Colorado Legislature on Wednesday gave final approval to an $18.8 billion budget plan for fiscal year 2010 that would reduce Medicaid reimbursements to physicians and cut $15 million in funding for health clinics that serve the uninsured, the AP/Denver Examiner reports. The budget now goes to Gov. Bill Ritter (D) for his signature (Slevin, AP/Denver Examiner, 4/23).
  
  
• Rhode Island: Nurses and other caretakers are protesting a Rhode Island plan enacted this month that seeks to close the state's budget deficit this fiscal year by cutting by 5% the daily rate paid to nursing homes treating Medicaid beneficiaries, the AP/Boston Globe reports. The plan hopes to save $5 million, or about 2% of what officials originally planned to spend on nursing home care this year. Gov. Don Carcieri (R) said his administration also plans to reduce payments to nursing homes to compensate for staff costs. Nursing home operators say the plan could force them to postpone expansion projects and lay off workers (Henry, AP/Boston Globe, 4/19).

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