Governor Proposes Medicaid Cuts and CHIP Elimination to Address Deficit
Feb. 5, 2010 – To help address a $1.4 billion budget deficit for this fiscal year and a $3.2 billion deficit estimated for the next fiscal year, Governor Brewer has proposed cutting enrollment in the state's Medicaid program by over 310,000 people, reducing Medicaid benefits, and eliminating the state's Children's Health Insurance Program "KidsCare" which covers nearly 47,000 children. The Governor is asking for a special election to repeal Proposition 204, which expanded Medicaid eligibility for all Arizonans earning up to 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The repeal of Proposition 204 would save the state roughly $400 million in fiscal year 2011 and $1 billion in fiscal year 2012. Elimination of the KidsCare program would save the state roughly $23 million.
