By Tony McVeigh
Frankfort, KY – Governor Steve Beshear's plan for balancing Kentucky's Medicaid budget has passed the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee. The plan involves moving 166-million dollars from the second year of the Medicaid budget to the current year. Any second-year shortfall will be covered by savings from managed care, says State Budget Director Mary Lassiter.
"It's not a matter of whether we're going to balance this budget. It's a matter of how and when. And our plan to save that additional $39 million in state funds is all directly related to our managed care approach and these requests for information."
The committee also said yes to legislation raising the state's drop out age from 16 to 18 by 2016. The bill, which already has House Education Committee approval, moves to the House floor, as does the Medicaid bill.