Here's the May 1, 2008 edition of the MEDICAID WATCH. As always, notable and recent state developments and proposals that expand access and eligibility appear in blue, while notable and recent state developments and proposals that cut access and eligibility are printed in red. The last two pages contain a regularly-updated listing of sources and resources on state health coverage, with the most recent items highlighted in yellow.

While the MEDICAID WATCH, of course, covers state-level Medicaid eligibility and access news, it also reports on other state health assistance programs, including:

*State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP)
*States' non-federally-funded medical assistance programs
*State Pharmacy Assistance Programs (SPAPs)
*State AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) for low income HIV-positive persons
*State-subsidized or -sponsored health insurance programs for limited income persons
*State-subsidized high risk health insurance pools (including premium discount programs for the poor)
*Publicly-subsidized safety-net hospitals offering free or discounted care to the poor
*Publicly-subsidized low income community clinics
*Publicly-subsidized mental health and substance abuse treatment programs

We've now begun noting for each state the then-most-currently-available figures for their Medicaid aged & disabled and parental income eligibility levels. State parental levels (which, by the way, also cover other related child caretakers who pool income with the child[ren] in the absence of both parents) are from a recent Center on Budget and Policy Priorities survey and tabulation----and they're expressed and measured as a percentage of 2007's Federal Poverty Level (FPL). (For your convenience, the 2007 FPL figures are noted on page 12 of this edition.) For further details---including income disregards and allowable asset levels--see the aged/disabled and parental income level documents in the "Items from the Title II Community AIDS National Network" under "what's new" at www.healthlaw.org .

We continue to report whether states now face budget shortfalls or deficits caused by the economic downturn and any proposals they're considering to deal with them. States habitually respond to such crises by reducing their already-too-low provider fees; eliminating "optional" service coverage (e.g., adult dental care, podiatry, etc.) and, in the worst cases, tightening eligibility and patient access. Among those documents mentioned just above is "Painless Ways to Deal With State Medicaid Shortfalls" by encouraging them to adopt money-saving reforms that do not cut eligibility, access or services.

Please do share this with your colleagues and affiliates at the state and local level. We welcome your comments, news items and corrections; email me at tomxix@ix.netcom.com .


Regards,

Thomas P. McCormack
Editor, MEDICAID WATCH
&
Public Benefits Policy Consultant
Title II Community AIDS National Network (TIICANN)
www.tiicann.org
Washington, DC
(202) 479-2543