By Tony McVeigh
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-913648.mp3
Kentucky – In Frankfort, a 12-member, legislative task force seeking ways to contain spiraling Medicaid costs in Kentucky is getting down to work. Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeigh was at the panel's inaugural meeting.
Medicaid costs in Kentucky have grown from less than $1 billion dollars in 1990 to more than $5 billion. The program, which provides medical services for the needy, now serves almost 800,000 Kentuckians, in a state with roughly four million residents. During discussions on cost containment, House Speaker Greg Stumbo raised questions about optional coverage provided by Kentucky, like dental, eyeglasses and rehabilitation.
"If the task of this group is to find ways to contain costs, then that's obviously something that we have to look at."
Kentucky could be facing a $1 billion hole in its Medicaid budget by the end of the year, if Congress doesn't agree to continue using stimulus dollars to pick up a larger share of state Medicaid costs. The state's share of the potential deficit is around $230 million.