Human Services Council cuts Medicaid provider rates

A state panel today voted to cut the rates it pays Medicaid providers. Roger Munns is a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Human Services.The Council on Human Services voted cut the rate the state pays Medicaid providers by just over 13 percent on February 1st. Munns says the cut will make up for the Medicaid budget shortfall.The cut amounts to 18-point-six million dollars, the amount of money cut in the four-point-three percent across the board state budget cut. Munns says the Human Services Council hopes the Legislature will return the money.Munns says providers who rely on Medicaid patients would be severely hurt if the cut goes through. Munns says some of the providers could be forced out of business or be forced to reduce their services.