Montgomery, AL – Alabama's Medicaid director is weighing cost-cutting measures as the agency braces for budget difficulties.
Carol Steckel told legislators Monday the agency will need to nearly double the amount it gets from the General Fund because federal stimulus funds will drop sharply in the next fiscal year. But the General Fund is already pressed due to sluggish tax revenues.
Steckel proposed several cost-cutting measures, including limiting adult Medicaid patients to five prescriptions a month, of which no more than two could be brand name drugs. Currently they can get five brand name and unlimited generic drugs.
Senate budget leaders said they want to make sure people aren't taken off medications that are working for them.
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