States consider how likely Medicaid funding could affect budgets

States are considering how likely-to-be-extended federal money for their Medicaid programs will affect their state budgets.

The Boston Globe: "Massachusetts stands to receive $655 million in federal Medicaid and education money under an aid package that narrowly cleared a key congressional hurdle yesterday despite opposition from the Bay State's Republican senator, Scott Brown." Massachusetts "Gov. Deval Patrick, while emphasizing that the federal aid hasn't been finalized, said he will introduce legislation to spend the money on a range of state programs that were slashed in the $27.6 billion budget for the current fiscal year, which he signed June 30" (Arsenault and Levenson, 8/5).

Baltimore Business Journal: The money would help plug a $389 million hole in Maryland's $7 billion Medicaid budget. "Shaun Adamec, a spokesman for Gov. Martin O'Malley, said Wednesday that Maryland likely will receive $280 million of the additional stimulus funds, assuming it is eventually approved by the Senate and House. … Adamec said the remaining $109 million Medicaid budget gap for fiscal 2011 could be filled with surplus tax revenue generated in fiscal 2010, which ended June 30. Maryland could end the year $300 million in the black, he said" (Graham, 8/4).

The Associated Press/Bloomberg Businessweek: Washington state stands to gain $320 million in Medicaid money. Washington Sen. Patty Murray "called it 'common sense legislation' to 'put families above partisan politics.' If the money doesn't come through, Gov. Gregoire will decide whether to call a special session to adjust the state budget" (8/4).

Kansas Health Institute: "Kansas would see $92 million for education jobs and $87.1 million in additional Medicaid dollars, according to the Governor's Office, if the bill becomes law as endorsed by the Senate. Kansas budget writers earlier this year assumed Congress would approve extended aid to states and that Kansas' share would be at least $131 million. If the bill becomes law in its current form, it would mean considerably more money than Kansas lawmakers had anticipated" (8/4).