Health care costs open $1.7 billion hole in Texas budgetThe following is the beginning of work to try to identify shortfalls and how to cover them. Perry has asked for recommendations on reductions and the submitted items so far amount to about $1.7 billion. Lots of revenue enhancements maybe needed to balance the next two year budget.
Texas' current two-year budget is going to run about $1.7 billion short in various health care programs, officials said Monday. A breakdown:
$1.3 billion: Medicaid
$142 million: health coverage for state employees
$88 million: correctional managed health care
$81 million: eligibility screening for Medicaid, CHIP, two other programs
$72 million: Children's Health Insurance Program
SOURCE: Testimony to the House Appropriations Committee
$1.3 billion: Medicaid =???? Hummmmm.