Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Continuing Certain Medicaid Options Will Increase Costs, But Benefit Recipients and the State

Report 05-03, January 2005




Report Summary

Florida provides Medicaid services to several optional groups of recipients and several optional services that are not mandated by federal law. These include providing prenatal care to pregnant women with incomes above 150% and up to 185% of the federal poverty level, health care services in addition to prescription drugs to medically needy individuals, and dentures for Medicaid recipients over 21 years of age.

  • Continuing prenatal care to pregnant women with incomes above 150% of the federal poverty level would cost approximately $51.1 million in Fiscal Year 2005-06, including $21 million in general revenue. These services benefit women and their babies and reduce the costs associated with poor birth outcomes.
  • Providing medical care in addition to prescription drugs to the medically needy would cost approximately $292.8 million in Fiscal Year 2005-06, including $122.6 million in general revenue. These services help ensure access to and continuity of care and avoid cost-shifting the burden of uncompensated care.
  • Restoring denture services for adult Medicaid recipients, which were discontinued in 2002, would cost approximately $19 million in Fiscal Year 2005-06, including $7.8 million in general revenue. These services benefit recipients by improving health and quality of life, and may reduce Medicaid expenses in other areas.


Related Reports
  1. A Medicaid Buy-in Program Would Increase Health Care Access for the Uninsured But Also Increase State Costs
    Report 05-62 December 2005
  2. Disabilities Groups Should Improve Coordination, But Duplication of Activities Appears to Be Low
    Report 05-39 July 2005
  3. Legislature Has Several Options for Florida's KidCare Family Premium
    Report 04-84 December 2004
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
social services, health, community-based care, homeless, medicaid, medically needy, prenatal care, dentures, optional medicaid services, continuum of care, affordable housing, employment, low income, mainstream services, TANF, medicaid, emergency shelter, transitional housing, poverty,