Squier: Medicaid Costs Will Jump $330-360 Million

Sidonie Squier
Capitol Report New Mexico - The secretary of New Mexico’s Human Services Department says she is trying to save the state’s Medicaid program by changing it. But by merely saying those words, Sidonie (pronounced “Sidney”) Squier is putting her head in the lion’s mouth … and there are people across the state who — figuratively — wouldn’t mind if the big cat clamps down. Squier says she’s aware of the political danger of adjusting a program that 1 in 4 New Mexicans participate in but says she’s willing take the risk because in her mind the numbers simply don’t add up. “Our costs are growing, our enrollment is growing and that doesn’t even count what we predict what will happen in 2014 when we’ll get 130,00 to 175,000 new enrollees,” Squier said in an interview with Capitol Report New Mexico from her office in Santa Fe. It’s estimated that those increases in participants will cost between $330 million to $360 million and that Medicaid costs will make up 16 percent of the state budget by next year. Read full story here: News New Mexico

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have you guys seen the new law passed in Florida that requires drug testing before welfare benefits can be paid? http://atlantapost.com/2011/07/06/new-florida-law-requires-drug-testing-for-welfare-recipients/

Anonymous said...

We need this law in every state. No benefits to druggies. Message? Get a job and get off the stuff. At least TRY to be productive. It might pass in other states. However, with the likes of Lujan running the house...he would be the "Enabler In Chief".

Anonymous said...

I doubt the numbers will increase in 2014. Obama care is very likely to be ruled unconstitutional regardless of what the president says.

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