Due To Miscalculation, Kansas’ Medicaid Backlog Four Times What State Thought
“The state ... is unhappy that we thought we were making so much progress,” Angela de Rocha, of the state health department, said. “And it turns out we weren’t making the degree of progress we had hoped.”
The Kansas City Star:
Kansas Medicaid Backlog Now Quadruple What State Thought
The state’s Medicaid application backlog has more than quadrupled in size because of inaccurate reports.
Kansas thought it had lowered the backlog to 3,480 people; it’s now up to 15,393. Of the new total, 10,961 applicants have been waiting for more than 45 days for the state to process their applications. (Dunn, 6/17)
Meanwhile, in California, a look at what made it into the state's budget and what was left out, including higher payments to Medi-Cal providers —
California Healthline:
California Budget: Small Health Gains, Advocates Look To Nov. Ballot For Big-Ticket Items
The $122.5 billion state budget approved this week by California lawmakers will fund a variety of health-related efforts, including training of primary care physicians, dental care for school children and medical interpreters for Medi-Cal, the government-funded insurance program for people with low incomes. But big-ticket health items such as higher payments to Medi-Cal providers and potential Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented adults didn’t make it into the budget agreement for next fiscal year that’s now awaiting the governor’s signature. (Bartolone, 6/20)
