Budget and Control Board approve $100M bailout for state Medicaid Agency.
COLUMBIA (WACH, AP) -- South Carolina's financial oversight board has approved a $100 million bailout of the state's Medicaid programs.
The Budget and Control Board says the Department of Health and Human Services will still run a $25 million deficit. The agency was originally asking for $125 million.
The board in February approved a $100 million bailout that provided enough money to continue payments until April for doctors, hospitals and nursing homes serving Medicaid patients.
State Treasurer Curtis Loftis objected to the move, saying the bailout and the $100 million approved last month amount to increasing the budget of the agency and that is something only the Legislature should do.
"I don't understand why an appropriation of this size is discussed by the five of us and not the entire General Assembly," said Loftis at Tuesday's meeting.
Loftis lost the vote 4-1.
Governor Nikki Haley encouraged agency director Tony Keck to find additional ways in which the Department of Health and Human Services can cut costs.
The Medicaid deficit will be covered by state surplus cash or reserves at the end of the fiscal year in June.
Do you think a bailout is the answer to the agency's deficit?
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH