Texas pharmacists assail Medicaid cuts; Ariz. could restore kids' coverage

Texas pharmacists say a plan to have health maintenance organizations manage the drug needs of Medicaid enrollees will drive them out of business. Meanwhile, Arizona officials announce a plan that will leverage federal Medicaid funds and allow them to restore insurance to some children who lost it in recent budget cuts.

The Dallas Morning News: Texas Pharmacists Warn Medicaid Cuts Put Businesses At Risk Of Closure
Pharmacists who serve poor Texans warned lawmakers Monday that they will be forced to close their doors if scheduled Medicaid fee cuts aren't rescinded. On March 1, health maintenance organizations will start managing the prescription drugs of more than 3.3 million Texans on Medicaid (Garrett, 11/28).

Arizona Republic: Arizona Proposal Would Restore Health Care To 19,000 Children
Gov. Jan Brewer and state hospital executives unveiled a proposal Monday to temporarily restore health care coverage to tens of thousands of Arizona children. The plan, which requires approval from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, would allow more than 19,200 children on a waiting list to enroll in KidsCare, a state-subsidized health-insurance program for low-income families (Rough, 11/28).

MSNBC: Plan Would Provide Health Care To More Than 19,000 Arizona Children
A plan by three hospital groups to leverage more federal cash for themselves will also help provide care to more than 19,000 children of the working poor, at least temporarily. The proposal, unveiled Monday, involves (the hospitals) putting up about $60 million a year in each of the next two years to pay for care for those without health insurance. That now includes people who used to qualify for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state's Medicaid program, before Gov. Jan Brewer ordered cutbacks. In exchange, though, Medicaid would kick in an additional $114 million each year to help the hospitals pay for that care (11/28).