State Alternatives to Medicaid Expansion
States are being encouraged to take the federal money and run — headlong into expanding their Medicaid program. However, this federal gravy train cannot go on forever. Chris Jacobs explains that states have other options when reforming health care within their states:
States are being encouraged to take the federal money and run — headlong into expanding their Medicaid program. However, this federal gravy train cannot go on forever. Chris Jacobs explains that states have other options when reforming health care within their states:
- Rhode Island got a waiver granting it the flexibility to use home and community-based services as an alternative to nursing homes.
- Indiana developed a program similar to consumer-driven health plans to provide coverage and the appropriate incentives to low-income populations.
- Florida successfully tested private managed care plans as a way to cover low-income families.
Lessons from other states are also evident from the early-stage experiments. According to Chris Jacobs, these follow a common theme:
- Customized Beneficiary Services.
- Coordinated and Preventive Care.
- Personal Responsibility.
- Home and Community-Based Services.
- No New Federal Funds.
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