The state legislature’s interim Medicaid Reform Committee continues to struggle through its review of the state’s Medicaid program. The Committee is supposed to make recommendations to the 2003 legislative session and is scheduled to complete its work in early December.

The Disability Coalition on Medicaid Reform, which includes P&A and several other advocacy groups, has provided information, testimony and specific recommendations to the Committee. The Coalition is focusing its efforts on encouraging community-based alternatives to institutional care, and consumer-directed service options in Medicaid programs.

For example, the Coalition has highlighted the consumer-directed option in the Personal Care Option program, which is less expensive and often more popular with consumers than the agency-directed model. Only 3% of all PCO recipients are using the self-directed model, due in part to the fact that most consumers are not informed of this option or it is not offered in their area.

There has been widespread speculation that the Committee would recommend reductions in the level of Medicaid benefits, or efforts to make it harder for people to qualify for Medicaid. The Committee has not yet endorsed any such changes, but the Committee was recently informed by HSD that it would take an additional $82 million to maintain the program at its current level in the year that begins July 1, 2003.

Long term care programs that serve the elderly and people with disabilities account for 30% of the Medicaid budget, which now exceeds $1.8 billion.