The Arizona Supreme Court did not review an appeal that challenged the cuts to the state's Medicaid program — the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System — which effectively ends the case, according to a Arizona Republic News report.
Medicaid payments will be cut by 5 percent for hospitals and other providers, and it is estimated that roughly 100,000 childless adults will lose Medicaid coverage this year, according to the report.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and the state legislature approved $500 million in cuts to the Medicaid program last year.
However, the state Supreme Court let one particular Appeals Court ruling stand. The ruling stated although the budget cuts may violate state law, the courts could not force the state legislature to obey the measure. "To have the courts saying the legislature is acting improperly, actually unconstitutionally, but we're not going to anything about it? That's a fairly surprising situation," said Arizona State University law professor Paul Bender in the report.
Medicaid payments will be cut by 5 percent for hospitals and other providers, and it is estimated that roughly 100,000 childless adults will lose Medicaid coverage this year, according to the report.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and the state legislature approved $500 million in cuts to the Medicaid program last year.
However, the state Supreme Court let one particular Appeals Court ruling stand. The ruling stated although the budget cuts may violate state law, the courts could not force the state legislature to obey the measure. "To have the courts saying the legislature is acting improperly, actually unconstitutionally, but we're not going to anything about it? That's a fairly surprising situation," said Arizona State University law professor Paul Bender in the report.
Related Articles on Arizona Medicaid:
How Should Hospitals Work Around Medicaid Payment Cuts This Year?
Attorney Asks Arizona Supreme Court to Reinstate Medicaid Funding
Arizona Appeals Court Upholds Medicaid Cuts