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State estimates show billion dollar deficit in Medicaid for 2012-2013

By Lynn Hatter

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-990285.mp3

Tallahassee, FL – Florida lawmakers are looking at a billion-dollar shortfall in the Medicaid program. Lynn Hatter reports that's the state and federal partnership that provides health insurance to low-income Floridians.

State economists say the hole in the state's Medicaid budget next year will be between $900 million to a billion dollars unless lawmakers make some big changes in the program. Medicaid is also looking at a deficit this year between 50 and 65 million dollars.

The state has seen an uptick in the number of people applying for benefits this year, but around June the numbers began to decrease, leading to a drop in the expected deficit for the current fiscal year.

Early this year the legislature also approved a plan to steer almost three-million Floridians on Medicaid into a managed care system. Supporters say it will help control costs. However, that plan is still waiting for federal approval.