Medicaid, health savings lower than projected
Medicaid and other health-related cost-cutting measures passed by the Legislature in 2011 fell short of the anticipated $2.9 billion in savings, the Senate Finance Committee learned Wednesday.
The best estimates available today put the savings at $1.8 billion in the current two-year budget cycle, officials with the Legislative Budget Board said during a committee hearing to examine the state’s large health and human services budget.
The lower estimate was followed by sobering words by the committee’s chairman, Sen. Tommy Williams, who warned that health spending now equals education spending —about $70 billion — when state and federal money is combined.
“That’s not to diminish the needs that we have in this area, but we cannot continue to fund 14 percent annual growth in (health spending) — which is what we’ve had over roughly the last 10 years — and build the higher education facilities, highways and water infrastructure our state needs to continue growing,” said Williams, R-The Woodlands.
More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/medicaid-health-savings-lower-than-projected/nWBM4/ .
[font color=green]But yesterday Rick Perry in the State of the State address said that he is opposed to any expansion in Medicaid.[/font]
