By McVeigh
Frankfort, KY – Kentucky hopes to save millions of dollars in the current biennium by instituting Medicaid managed care programs statewide. The Passport managed care program in Louisville saved the state millions of dollars, even though questionable spending ultimately led to a management shake-up. Health and Family Services Secretary Janie Miller promises better oversight, and says the state is getting a good response from entities interested in running managed care programs around the commonwealth.
"You're wanting to get their best estimate of their price, and so since these may result in procurements, you have to be pretty careful about what information you put out - until we make decisions. Now, once we make decisions and procurements are out there, then people will be able to see what those procurements are."
Miller says if any deficit occurs in the second year of the Medicaid budget, it will be covered by savings from managed care. In the meantime, lawmakers are being asked to move 166-million dollars from the second year, to the current year, to cover a huge Medicaid deficit. The proposal already has House approval.