Major Medicaid Cuts Proposed in 2011

Do you or someone you know receive Medicaid benefits? You should know that DSHS is proposing major cuts to Medicaid benefits next year. Many Medicaid services are scheduled to be cut in 2011. Adult dental services will no longer be covered. If you are working with a dentist now, make sure that the dentist submits all information required by DSHS for pre-approval before December 31st of this year. If your current Medicaid plan covers services such as vision and hearing, podiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy and/or speech therapy, these benefits are also scheduled to be cut on January 1st, so if you need any of those services, such as glasses, you might want to get those taken care of now too. DSHS will send notices to clients affected sometime in December, but that may not be enough time to work with your provider. They also plan to cut Medicare Part D Co-Pays, State Alien Medical coverage and School-Based Medical Services by January 1st.

DSHS have also proposed some other major Medicaid cuts to take effect March 1st 2011, including cutting adult pharmacy benefits and GAU medical benefits. They also plan to cut Family Planning/Take Charge, First Steps/Maternity Support Services/Infant Case Management/Childbirth Education, Children Health Program (CHP), and Interpreter Services by March 1st.

Hopefully advocacy can get these benefits reinstated. Call your state legislators at 1-800-562-6000 and tell them not to make the proposed cuts to Medicaid benefits. The legislative hotline is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 430 pm. The state legislature needs to hear from you why they can't make these devastating cuts to Medicaid, call 1-800-562-6000. But be prepared for these proposed cuts by getting your dental and medical work done now.

For More information:
Complete list of proposed Medicaid cuts
Letter from DSHS to Medicaid clients
DSHS Medicaid budget webpage