By Stu Johnson - Kentucky Public Radio
Richmond, KY –
Lawmakers will report to Frankfort next week to choose their leaders. But, they will also get a feel for the agenda during this so called short 30 day session. Finding an answer for a 139 million dollar state Medicaid deficit will be a priority issue. Governor Beshear and Health and Family Services cabinet secretary Janie Miller are suggesting spending money proposed for 2012 in 2011.
"Allowing the cabinet to implement cost efficiencies that would lower costs in the second year. This would, in fact, then allow for solving the problem without the infusion of new dollars, new dollars that would have to come from probably some other place in state government," said Miller.
When you consider the matching federal monies, the deficit problem comes to a 600 million dollar issue. Janie Miller says concrete answers are hard to come by.
" A long term solution is a difficult thing because a long term solution implies that there are static conditions in the program. There aren't static conditions. Right now, primarily the cost of the program is being driven by the growth in the number of eligibles due to the economic recession," added Miller.
It's difficult to say how many bills will be considered during the 30 day legislative session. But, it's very likely this issue will be heavily debated in 2011.