State official wants to keep Medicaid drug coverage, shift patients to managed care

Wisconsin should keep optional Medicaid services such as drug coverage and shift costly patients into managed care, the state's health services secretary told health care advocates Tuesday. Dennis Smith, who heads the Department of Health Services, vowed to be transparent about Medicaid changes, even though Gov. Scott Walker's stalled budget repair bill would give Smith new powers to reshape the state-federal health plan for the poor with less legislative review than required now. (WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, 3/9)