A story published today in the Indianapolis Star reports that drastic
measures are being taken to balance the state's budget. One of those
measures involves placing a lien on the homes of single people who receive
Medicaid assistance in Indiana. But similar action is not planned for
the homes of married Medicaid recipients.
According to the story, here are the new actions the state will take in
connection with its Medicaid program in the
two-year, $22.8 billion state budget that takes effect July 1:
• Sets aside $1.21 billion in state money in the 2004
and 2005 budget years for Medicaid, the same as in this budget year.
• Requires Medicaid to "tax" revenue from 460 of the
state's 543 nursing homes to bring in federal money that would increase
their payments. A legislative committee must approve all changes in nursing
home reimbursement.
• Creates a new property tax levy for all counties to
pay for youths in need of residential psychiatric care.
• Allows liens to be placed against the value of
houses owned by single people on Medicaid so taxpayer money spent on
their care can be recouped when the property is sold.
• Requires recipients in several counties --
including Johnson, Madison and Morgan -- to enroll in Medicaid HMOs.
• Allows public schools that offer therapies and
other medical services to disabled students to collect Medicaid payments.
• Encourages the state, if necessary, to cut payments
for services not required by federal law, such as prescription drugs.
• Allows the Indiana State Department of Health to
certify the Indiana Veterans Home at
West Lafayette to
get paid by Medicaid, if having the federal government pick up a share of
the operating costs would save state taxpayers money.
Single
Medicaid recipients in Indiana will have liens put on their homes