Improving Medicaid: Governor Bentley Outlines Support for Medicaid Advisory Commission Recommendations
By: Blake Deshazo
Updated: March 13, 2013
MONTGOMERY
- Governor Robert Bentley on Tuesday visited Jackson Hospital in
Montgomery to highlight his support for legislation designed to
transform the Alabama Medicaid Agency into a more efficient and more
affordable program for the taxpayers of Alabama.
The
proposed legislation, to be introduced by Senate Health Committee Chair
Greg Reed (R-Jasper) and House Health Committee Chair Jim McClendon
(R-Springville), incorporates recommendations from the Alabama Medicaid
Advisory Commission.
Governor
Bentley established the commission in October. The Governor's goal is
to improve Medicaid's financial stability while also providing
high-quality patient care. The 33-member commission submitted its final
report to Governor Bentley on January 30.
"We
now have a chance to turn Alabama Medicaid into a program that provides
better care while making more efficient use of taxpayer dollars,"
Governor Bentley said. "The Alabama Medicaid Agency is also taking
steps to prevent fraud and abuse of the system. Improving Medicaid is a
long-term process, and the recommendations provided by the commission
will help us put the proper reforms into place,
which will benefit patients and taxpayers alike."
The
legislation will help the Alabama Medicaid Agency end its current
"fee-for-service" model in favor of regional managed care networks. The
networks would then work to provide better, more efficient care for
patients while also working to control costs to the state.
State
Health Officer Dr. Donald Williamson, chair of the Alabama Medicaid
Advisory Commission, said the legislation will need to be paired with
private-sector efforts to create care networks that could contract with
Medicaid to provide services to Medicaid beneficiaries. Dr. Williamson
also reiterated that Medicaid is taking steps to improve fraud and abuse
prevention and to shift to a payment system
that rewards good outcomes and quality.
"We
are providing a different Medicaid program, one that's designed locally
and implemented locally by people who best understand the local
healthcare needs," Dr.
Donald Williamson said. "The commission appreciates the opportunity to
serve the Governor and to offer our perspectives on the future of
Alabama Medicaid."
The full report of the Alabama Medicaid Advisory Commission can be accessed online at: http://www.medicaid.alabama.gov/CONTENT/2.0_newsroom/2.2.1_Med_Adv_Commission.aspx.
Select the "Final Report" option.
