At least one state wants Medicaid beneficiaries to take responsibility for their own care strongly enough to put incentives in place. West Virginia proposed and the feds approved a plan for “personal responsibility contracts.” (Medical News Today)
To receive credits for health care services, beneficiaries must choose a primary care provider – a “medical home” – and take measures to stay healthy and improve health by taking medications, attending doctors appointments and exercising. Beneficiaries build up credits in a “healthy rewards account” for optional services. Those who don’t meet the goals will have benefits and coverage reduced.
The personal responsibility contracts will probably help reduce costs associated with unnecessary and preventable treatment. From the Charleston Daily Mail:
[W]ith federal pressure to curtail Medicaid costs, the redesign also relies on “care coordination.” Recipients must seek prior approval for outpatient surgery and other procedures.
With about one-fourth of its 1.8 million people relying on Medicaid for their health care, West Virginia spent $2.3 billion in state and matching federal funds on the program in 2005.
“I just know that there’s always never enough,” Manchin said. “We want desperately to get this program under control.”