The National Conference of State Legislatures compiles an annual list of issues it predicts will dominate the year’s legislative sessions. Number four on the “Top 9 issues of ’09” was “health costs and reform.”
The NCSL says state budget gaps, rising health care costs and growing unemployment are coming together for some turbulent times.
“Health costs keep rising at the same time that state budgets are in trouble. An immediate challenge for states in 2009 will be to maintain and retool current health programs, especially Medicaid and diverse programs aimed at covering the uninsured. As the numbers of unemployed increase, Medicaid rolls will grow.”
See what other predictions the NCSL has about health care in individual states.
