Gov. Donald L. Carcieri and Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council President Ronald K. Machtley have joined in announcing the formation of a Medicaid Study Group to investigate how to “more efficiently and efficiently deliver health care services” to the poorest and most vulnerable Rhode Islanders.
The group, to comprise business, community and health-care leaders, will be asked to present an interim report by Dec. 1 and its final recommendations by March 1, Carcieri said in their Sept. 11 joint statement.
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“Given limited state resources and demographic trends, providing quality medical services to needy Rhode Islanders requires that the Medicaid program be operated in the most efficient and cost-effective manner,” said Gary Sasse, the executive director of RIPEC. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, devoted to public-policy research and education, was founded in 1932.
Sasse will be co-chairman of the study group, with Jeffrey Grybowski, the governor’s chief of staff.
“Rhode Island has a strong tradition of being one of the most generous states in the nation,” Carcieri said. “That is especially true with regard to the health-care services that we provide to Rhode Island’s most vulnerable citizens. I am proud of that tradition and I want to make sure we can continue that legacy.” But greater efficiency will be required, he said, “to reduce the [spending] growth rate while making sure we continue to provide these essential health-care services.”
He cited Medicaid’s continuing focus on institutional care, despite the greater efficiencies that may often be obtained with home-based care, as one possible focus of change.
A full list of study panel members can be found online at ri.gov.
