Review of state Medicare program is underway

State officials, insurance industry executives and leaders of a national think-tank today began their review of ideas to revamp the state Medicaid system which provides health care to poor and needy Iowans. Dan Fox, president of the national foundation that’s helping with the review, says a handful of states are embarking on “Medicaid transformation.” Fox says no other state has such a unified spirit and “reasoned ambition” for creating what he calls “the New Medicaid.”Governor Vilsack says the ideas that’ll lead to new ways of providing health care to poor children, needy adults and the disabled will have to be test marketed, and special federal waivers may be needed since the feds pay a share of Medicaid costs. Vilsack says the project’s a challenge, but he says it’s something that “can be done and should be done.” The initial idea calls for creating “insurance-like” products that’d encourage Medicaid recipients to find a “medical home” for preventative care rather than wait ’til they get so sick they have to go to an E-R. Those who’re crafting the “redesign” of Medicaid say it may not actually end up bringing lots of savings to the state, and could end up costing the state more in the near term.