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2016 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Conference Report)

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Medicaid Forecasting Process (language only)

Item 310 #12c

Item 310 #12c

Health and Human Resources
Department of Medical Assistance Services

Language

Page 275, strike lines 34 through 42 and insert:

"A.1. By November 1 of each year, the Department of Planning and Budget, in cooperation with the Department of Medical Assistance Services, shall prepare and submit a forecast of Medicaid expenditures, upon which the Governor's budget recommendations will be based, for the current and subsequent two years to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees.

2. The forecast shall be based upon current state and federal laws and regulations. Rebasing and inflation estimates that are required by existing law or regulation for any Medicaid provider shall be included in the forecast. The forecast shall also include an estimate of projected increases or decreases in managed care costs, including estimates regarding changes in managed care rates for the three-year period. In preparing for each year's forecast of the managed care portions of the budget, the department shall submit to its actuarial contractor a letter, with a copy sent to the Department of Planning and Budget and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees. This letter shall document the department's request for a point estimate of the rate of increase in rates, based on application of actuarial principals and methodologies and information available at the time of the forecast, that the contractor estimates will occur in the years being forecast, and shall specify the population groupings for which estimates are requested.   The department shall request that the contractor reply in writing with a copy to all parties copied on the department's letter.

3. The Department of Planning and Budget and the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall convene a meeting on or before October 15 of each year with the appropriate staff from the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees to review current trends and the assumptions used in the Medicaid forecast prior to its finalization.

B. The Department of Medical Assistance Services shall submit monthly expenditure reports of the Medicaid program by service.  The report for the month at the end of each quarter shall compare expenditures to the official Medicaid forecast, adjusted to reflect budget actions from each General Assembly Session. The monthly report shall be submitted to the Department of Planning and Budget and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees within 20 days after the end of each month and the quarterly report shall be submitted within 30 days after the end of the quarter."



Explanation

(This amendment establishes greater detail and clarity on the Medicaid forecasting process. These changes will improve transparency and ensure integrity of the process. The Medicaid program is a significant driver of state spending and therefore any estimates of program spending are essential to the state budget process.)