Reports Examine Optional Populations in Medicaid, States' Efforts to Increase Cost-Sharing in Public Health Programs, USA

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 12 Jun 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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The Latest Data on Mandatory and Optional Populations and Benefits in Medicaid, Kaiser Family Foundation: Although Medicaid's optional populations account for 29% of enrollment, 60% of all Medicaid spending (for mandatory and optional populations) is optional, according to an issue paper and a background report from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.

The papers, which also found that 86% of all optional spending is for the elderly and people with disabilities, include an analysis of methodology and data, as well as a discussion of practical implications for policy changes. KCMU also released a new issue paper, titled "Increasing Premiums and Cost-Sharing in Medicaid and SCHIP: Recent State Experiences," that examines the effect of increased or new out-of-pocket costs on state public health programs. The report found that increasing cost sharing did result in savings for states but primarily from reduced coverage due in part to disenrollment and reduced use of services (Kaiser Family Foundation release, June 2005).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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