The Medicaid program’s budget needs to be cut by $47 million in fiscal year 2011 to meet budget targets. At the same time, state Medicaid enrollment has jumped 10 percent from over a year ago.
The potential cuts to the Medicaid program would cause even greater reductions in federal matching funds as the federal government currently matches 80 cents for every 20 cents the state government pays out in Medicaid reimbursements, according to the report. A reduction in state reimbursements would then greatly reduce federal reimbursement going to hospitals. Thus, hospitals in the state are supporting the assessment in order to maintain federal matching funds.
Read the Idaho Statesman’s report on Idaho hospital fees.
