Massachusetts House Members Say They Will Fix Bill-Drafting Error That Would Have Dropped 70,000 More than Intended from Medicaid

Massachusetts House leaders on May 21 said they will fix a "drafting error" in a $22.9 billion budget proposal for the fiscal year beginning July 1 that would have cut Medicaid benefits for 70,000 more beneficiaries than intended, the Boston Globe reports (Klein, Boston Globe, 5/22). As written, the budget the state House approved last week would reduce Medicaid eligibility from 133% of the federal poverty level to 100% for all adults. However, budget writers had intended to reduce eligibility only for the long-term unemployed, or those who have been jobless for longer than one year (Klein, Boston Globe, 5/21). If the budget had taken effect, about 100,000 Medicaid beneficiaries would have lost their coverage, rather than the 30,000 people House leaders meant to exclude (Boston Globe, 5/22). By reducing Medicaid eligibility for the long-term unemployed, the state expects to save $400 million next year (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 5/20). State Rep. Harriett Stanley (D), chair of the House Health Care Committee, said the error was caused by "confusion" among the dozens of lawmakers and aides who worked on drafting the budget's language. "It was just utter chaos," she said (Boston Globe, 5/21). Although health care advocates were "alarmed" by the budget language, House leaders have assured them that the problem will be resolved before the final bill is enrolled and sent to acting Gov. Jane Swift (R). For their part, Senate leaders said they would ensure that the proper language is in the bill during their budget negotiations with the House (Boston Globe, 5/22).