Mississippi Medicaid Commission Recommends Patient ID Cards, Patient and Doctor Education to Reduce Costs

A 35-member commission, convened by Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove (D), on July 9 issued a report detailing suggestions to reduce costs in the state's Medicaid program, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports. The Medicaid program is expected to have a $120 million budget deficit in the fiscal year that began July 1. The commission, which has been meeting since May and is separate from the state's legislative committee on the program, called for the state to issue patient identification cards and for officials to "do more to educate doctors and patients about the cost of the program." Commission Chair Dr. Dwalia South said the identification cards "could prevent people from using other's Medicaid benefits." The commission also suggested that the program could send beneficiaries a pamphlet explaining the benefits they receive. "In some simple way, patients could be made partners in their health care," she said. The group also called for an unspecified tobacco tax increase to boost funding for Medicaid. Musgrove said he had not yet reviewed the commission's suggestions but added, "I am opposed to ... increasing any taxes" (Wagster, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 7/10).