Close up image of a caretaker helping older woman walk

Two Medicaid Commission members dissented from the commission’s recent report, which outlined ways to reform the governmental program and cut costs. One member said the report fails to address the program’s bias towards institutions, such as nursing homes.

The commission submitted its report to the Department of Health and Human Services last week. Gwen Gillenwater, who represents the American Association of People with Disabilities, complained that only 37% of Medicaid expenditures for long-term care are for home or community-based services. Robert B. Helms, resident scholar with the American Enterprise Institute, also dissented. Gillenwater and Helms were among the 13 voting members of the Commission appointed in July 2005. Democrats largely boycotted the Commission and turned down seats on the panel.

Among its suggestions, the report recommends that states be given greater flexibility to design benefit packages, including eligibility criteria. It also recommends allowing states to enroll dual eligible beneficiaries into managed care plans.

The report is available at http://www.aspe.hhs.gov/medicaid/122906rpt.pdf.