Please note: The CO Rural Health Center has not taken a formal position on any of these proposed cuts.
Get ready for FY10-11 budget fun under the dome as the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) will be figure setting for the Health Care Policy & Finance (HCPF) Department on March 11th. What this means is that funding and budget proposals regarding Medicaid and other healthcare services will be set during this time as the JBC prepares the long bill (aka our state budget). Public testimony is not allowed during figure setting or for the long bill, but members of the JBC may be contacted via email or phone if you are concerned by any of the proposed cuts that are planning to make up the HCPF figure setting. FY10-11 will begin July 1, 2010 and runs through June 30, 2011.
Some of the proposed HCPF cuts for FY10-11 include:
A 4-week delay in Medicaid payments (meaning Medicaid providers will most likely get paid the first week of June 2011, but won't be paid again until after July 1, 2011);
$25.7 million cut from Amendment 35 funds, which will leave $17.3 million for prevention, early detection, and treatment programs; tobacco education; and health disparities programs;
Medicaid reimbursement cut of 1%; and
10% Medicaid cuts to Advance Practice Nurses(APN) and Physician Assistants(PA).
This last cut, in particular, will greatly impact rural healthcare providers and services. Cutting reimbursement to APNs and PAs to 90% of what a physician receives for providing the same service will very much be felt in many rural communities and counties where APNs and PAs serve as the primary healthcare provider.
If you are concerned about these proposed cuts and/or would like more information, please contact Terri Hurst, CRHC Policy Analyst, or call 303-407-2031.
