New Year, New Medicaid Program Benefit Cuts

By Author: Narmin Leo
Total Articles: 58
Comment this article

On January 1, 2011, the Washington State Medicaid program announced it was to stop meeting the cost of half a dozen categories of health care. Adult hearing aids, eyeglasses and non-emergency dental care for adults were among these cuts, as was Medicare Part D, medication co-pays for old age pensioners and the disabled.

For this year and the impending biennium, some of the most heavily criticized proposed cuts to the Medicaid program were restored and will hence continue into 2011. These include cuts that would have affected adult prescription pharmacy services; adult hospice services; family planning drugs and devices; physical, occupational and speech therapy for adults; and dialysis, nursing home care and chemotherapy services for non-citizens.

Outpatient prescription drugs provided to adults aged 21 years and over by retail pharmacies will continue to be covered by the Medicaid program. The adult hospice program, which provides expert nursing palliative care, will remain in place as will physical, occupation and speech therapy services for adult outpatients. The Take Charge Family Planning program for clients ...
... with low incomes will continue and family planning services will remain available to women for one year post-pregnancy. State Alien Medical, which provides cancer, dialysis and nursing home care coverage for non-citizens, and programs to assist high-risk mothers both before and after the births of their babies will remain in place.

The withdrawal of these proposed cuts, which would have impacted the country’s most vulnerable, came as welcome news. However, further budget cuts will be required to restore the severe fiscal crisis the country is facing. Further health care cuts may hit Medicaid clients on March 1, 2011, with many more cuts predicted for July 1, 2011.

As of January 1, 2011, the Medicaid program ceased to reimburse health care providers for hearing aids, bone-anchored hearing aids, cochlear implants and repair of such equipment. Audiology examinations and treatments for disorders or disease of the ear itself will remain covered by the Medicaid program. Medicaid will only meet the costs of emergency dental care and surgical dental treatment for adults aged 21 years or over. Adults of the Division of Developmental Disabilities will continue to be covered by a dental program.

Medicaid is withdrawing its provision for foot care considered not to be a treatment for an acute podiatry condition. The program will not meet the cost of adult eyeglasses (lenses and frames). However, it will provide coverage for eye examinations and any medical treatment required to protect eyesight. Medicaid will no longer meet the cost of health care related services provided by school districts included in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) of a child enrolled in Medicaid. Furthermore, the state is no longer responsible for meeting the costs of prescription co-pays for prescriptions that total in the region of $1 - $6.30.

As of March 1, 2011, further budget cuts may be enacted. Medicaid is expected to withdraw its children’s health program, which provides medical coverage to 27,000 children. Medicaid is also likely to withdraw its interpreter services for English-deficient Medicaid program clients. Medical services in the Disability Lifeline Program and the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment and Support Act are also likely to be suspended. The basic health plan, which covers around 56,000 Washington residents and boasts a waiting list of 130,000 individuals, is also likely to be cut.

The enacted and proposed budget cuts have left many American residents feeling short-changed when it comes to the level of coverage they receive from their health care programs. American residents having to save their cents to meet the costs of medical care and treatments not covered by their health care plans are finding new ways to save their cents. This includes ordering their prescription and over-the-counter drugs from affordable online pharmacies.

CanadaDrugCenter.com, the leading provider of low-cost drugs, is one pharmacy to which American and Canadian residents are turning. This licensed Canadian pharmacy offers a lowest price guarantee on all their medicines. Those requiring medicines can place their orders online or by mail, fax, e-mail and telephone. All products are 100% genuine and come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

CanadaDrugCenter.com has been a trusted Canadian pharmacy for many years. The company has earned membership of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA) and the International Pharmacy Association of British Columbia (IPABC). In addition, it is a valid member of the website PharmacyChecker.com. CanadaDrugCenter.com can be relied upon to deliver drugs directly to the customer’s door within a maximum of twelve business days and hence it is the preferred provider of low-cost Canada drugs.

canadian online pharmacies carry a wide range of over the counter medicationsat surprisingly low prices. On this website, you’ll find thousands of prescription and non-prescription brand and generic drugs at discount prices.