CRAPO PUSHES FOR MEDICAID REFORM

Washington, DC â??Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, pressed for action in reforming Medicaid during the Committeeâ??s hearing today calling for more sensible policy to better deliver healthcare. Crapo also thanked Governor Mark Warner of Virginia and Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the National Governors Association, respectively, for bringing a well-constructed Medicaid reform proposal before the Committee on behalf of the nationâ??s governors.â??Medicaid is ready for serious structural reform to provide Idaho and every other state more flexibility to better serve its particular needs,â?? said Crapo. â??Medicaid isnâ??t one programâ??itâ??s fifty diverse programs. We need to make Medicaid more responsive to statesâ?? needs and more transparent for all participants in the program, from those administering benefits to physicians and even pharmacists. We know the problems and inefficiencies within Medicaid, and itâ??s time that we fix them.â??Medicaid is a health insurance program jointly funded by the federal and state governments and provides care to more than 53 million Americans. Rising healthcare costs and growth in spending on Medicaid is becoming an increasing challenge for states to pay for the program.Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne, former Chairman of the National Governors Association and current member of the Executive Committee, helped formulate the to governorâ??s Medicaid reform recommendation (accessible at www.nga.org).