Congress reacts warily to Rhode Island Medicaid overhaul

Associated Press, October 20, 2008

Rhode Island is proposing an overhaul of its Medicaid program that Gov. Don Carcieri says will save the state millions of dollars, but the move could risk leaving the poor and elderly with fewer services should the plan not work. Instead of having the federal government reimburse Rhode Island more than 50 cents for every dollar the state spends to care for the needy, disabled, and elderly, Carcieri wants the state to get its federal money in a lump sum. But Democrats in Congress are deeply skeptical of the plan.