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Medicaid In Nevada Facing $56 Million Shortfall

Nevada Medicaid officials plan to ask state lawmakers for help in dealing with a projected $56 million shortfall for fiscal year 2019. 

The Nevada Current reports that the state Division of Health Care Policy and Financing is considering asking for a special appropriation to cover the costs, which they say is caused in part by an increase in health and behavioral services used by both children and adults. 

Mike Willden, Governor Brian Sandoval’s chief of staff, said the deficit is a result of the state’s failure to adequately monitor and limit referrals to behavioral health services.  

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One instance of increasing costs stems from the number of Nevada patients receiving intensive Outpatient Psychiatric Services, which increased from 54 in fiscal year 2013 to 6,516 in the fiscal year that ended in June. 

Medicaid billing for the services increased from $166,432 to $49.9 million during the same period.