NC Med.Journal: Hlth Reform: by 2014,20% state's population on Medicaid : Lanier Cansler, Secretary NC DHHS Speaks Out

The March/ April 2011 NC Medical Journal has an interesting article by Secretary of NC DHHS, Lanier Cansler.

In about 3 years, 20% of the population of NC will be on Medicaid. Isn't it time to have a One Provider System? There's no sign of that taking place, however, re: the 'exchange' which Mr. Cansler described in his article: www.northcarolinamedicaljournal.com/archives/?72217

Some timely comments from Mr Cansler's article in this public policy medical journal for the state:

"....NC Medicaid (will cover).....more than 20 million individuals, or approximatley 20% of the state's population by 2014. Beginning in 2014, all legal residents younger than 65 years whose income falls at or below 138% of the federal poverty level will be eligible for Medicaid coverage....

One key provision of the ACA (Affordable Care Act) is the requirement that states establish a 'no wrong door' approach fo individuals seeking to learn whether they are eligible or want to apply for a health insurance exchange product.....

DHHS has accelerated developmentl work on North Carolia Families Accessing Services through Technolgoy, a Web-based eligibility simplification and electronic eligibility determination system for 13 different income-related programs and services.....

As North Carolina's population grows (NC is projected to be the seventh most populous state by 2030) and becomes older as the baby boomer generation ages, the cost of sustaining the Medicaid program will exceed the state's ability to pay for the program....

To mention a few improvements, the DHHS and its Division of Meidcal Assistance will evaluate the option of establishing a 'basic health plan' to assist persons likely to otherwise switch back and forth between the exchange and Medicaid coverage...."

Also in the issue of this good public health journal is the following information re: "Implementation of the Affordable Care Act":

".......One of the primary reasons for passingthe ACA was to make health insurance more accessible and affordable. In NC, approximately 1.7 million nonelderly people (20.4% of the nonelderly population) were uninsured in 2009.....

.....for a family of 4, the limit (of 138%, by 2014) is equivalent to an annual household income of $30,429..."