Cost-containment options for Medicaid

Dec 8, 2011 - By 2013-14, Colorado’s Medicaid enrollment will be almost double that of a decade ago. Both enrollment and costs are expected to keep rising as the population ages, health care reform expands Medicaid eligibility to new groups of people, and a weak economy means more Coloradans are unable to afford private health insurance. The Colorado Health Institute (CHI) has released a new report discussing ways to control costs and keep the program sustainable in a time of strained state budgets.

Medicaid is a publicly funded federal/state program that provides health insurance for low-income parents, children, elders and individuals with disabilities. In 2011-12, the program in Colorado is covering two of five births, one of four children and six of 10 nursing home residents –  approximately one in 10 residents.

The CHI report examines options for reducing costs through both traditional ways as cutting services and reducing eligibility and payments, as well as innovative approaches such as the Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) and the Colorado Access to Community-based Transition and Services (CO-ACTS) program. It also looks at strategies underway in Colorado, other states and at the federal level to provide ensure Medicaid is as cost-efficient and efficient as possible.

CHI is a nonprofit, independent health policy information resource for Colorado leaders. For more information on CHI, visit www.ColoradoHealthInstitute.org.

Contact: 
Deborah Goeken
director of strategic services
(720) 382-7094