Health Care's New Prescription: The Power To Heal Through Consumer-Driven Medicaid | Eastern NC Now

    This post, by Katherine Restrepo, originally appeared in the John Locke Foundation's online edition.

    • Medicaid's ineffective utilization of its unpredictable budget is a parasitic disease to taxpayers and beneficiaries. The state now faces a budget overrun of more than $248 million.

    • Over 1.8 million North Carolinians receive Medicaid benefits, while taxpayers contribute over $14 billion annually to the entitlement program.

    • Consumer-driven Medicaid reform emphasizes principles of choice, competition, and fiscal responsibility for beneficiaries and providers.

    • Under a consumer-driven model, Medicaid patients would be able to choose benefits and services that best fit their medical needs from multiple health plans with defined block grants. Patients could also either engage in cost-sharing or benefit from healthy incentives.

    • Multiple Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) compete to offer the best services to Medicaid beneficiaries while remaining fiscally afloat.

    • Comprehensive and coordinated care between mental and physical health providers has the potential to produce positive health outcomes for patients and achieve cost-effectiveness via preventative health measures.

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