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State officials warn federal and state changes could shrink Medicaid coverage and squeeze behavioral-health funding
Summary
State and regional officials told Spokane County's SCRIBE forum that pending federal proposals and recent state budget reductions could shrink Medicaid eligibility, trigger penalties and require HCA to make deep administrative cuts, with potential impacts on hospitals, community providers and behavioral-health services across the region.
Jason (staff member) and Theresa Kleykamp, deputy director at the Division of Behavioral Health Recovery, briefed the Spokane County SCRIBE meeting on federal legislative proposals and recent state budget changes that health officials say could reduce Medicaid eligibility and force painful program adjustments.
The potential impact is large: “Some estimates show as much as 200, as much as 400,000 people may lose coverage,” Jason said, describing provisions in congressional bills that would add work requirements, cost-sharing and more frequent redeterminations. He cautioned that final outcomes depend on how the bills are implemented and on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rules.
Why it matters: Medicaid is the principal payer…
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