Medicaid: Experience with State Waivers to Promote Cost Control and Access to Care

United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Health, Education, and Human Services Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1995-03-23 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:T-HEHS-95-115 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-95-115 P0b002ee18038a8e3 f:the95115 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-95-115 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-95-115 T-HEHS-95-115 Medicaid programs State-administered programs Federal/state relations Waivers Health care cost control Agency proceedings Health maintenance organizations Health care services Tennessee Oregon Hawaii Rhode Island Testimony HEHS Medicaid: Experience with State Waivers to Promote Cost Control and Access to Care Congress has begun reexamining the $131 billion Medicaid program--one of the fastest growing components of both federal and state budgets. In 1993, Medicaid cost nearly $100 billion more and served about 10 million more low-income residents than it did a decade ago. To contain exploding costs and enrollment, many states are seeking greater flexibility in implementing statewide Medicaid managed-care programs. Currently, this flexibility is available only through the waiver authority established by section 1115 of the Social Security Act. Although many states have expressed interest in waivers, only four states have waivers in place. Two additional states have received federal approval, but their plans still must be ratified by state legislatures. States face significant challenges as they move from traditional fee-for-service systems into managed care. Specifically, the emphasis that states put on program implementation and oversight may affect whether states' managed-care programs successfully contain costs while increasing access to quality health care. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-95-115/html/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-95-115.htm GAO/T-HEHS-95-115 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-95-115 Testimony GAO/T-HEHS-95-115; Medicaid: Experience with State Waivers to Promote Cost Control and Access to Care; Medicaid programs State-administered programs Federal/state relations Waivers Health care cost control Agency proceedings Health maintenance organizations Health care services Tennessee Oregon Hawaii Rhode Island