A Medicaid budget in critical condition is continuing to getlawmakers’ attention as they seek solutions for the program that ismore than $150 million in the hole, said Dist. 92 Rep. Dr. JimBarnett.

“That’s the main thing we’re dealing with now,” Barnettsaid.

Barnett, one of two physicians in the legislature, is working ona new funding formula to deal with the deficit and future carepayments. He indicated a scaling back of benefits may be inorder.

“We must – it’s not a matter of want to – take a close look atmedical benefits,” Barnett said.

Several years ago, during good economic times, Medicaidrecipients “got whatever they asked for,” Barnett said.

The program was expanded beyond the basic services to includesuch treatments as adult dental care and doubling from five to 10the number of prescription drugs covered per month, Barnett said.Those costs are now putting the program in a deficit situation.

“The high costs of drugs is killing us,” Barnett said.

Barnett said he is looking to revamp the Medicaid formula andchange the lists of drugs covered under the programs. He saiddoctors like to be “kings on the throne” when prescribingmedication and do not like to have their options limited.

“We don’t like anyone telling us what to do, but this is onetime we have to,” Barnett said.

Friday, Gov. Ronnie Musgrove presented a plan to address theMedicaid situation. It included taking some money from a rural roadfund and seeking accelerated sales tax payments frombusinesses.

Barnett was not convinced and said the governor’s proposal was”no answer.”

“He was sort of borrowing from Peter to pay Paul,” Barnettsaid.

Tapping into the state’s settlement from its tobacco lawsuit hasalso been mentioned. Citing that Tennessee used its tobaccosettlement principal and is now out of money, Barnett opposed thatsuggestion.

“I am for spending nothing but the interest,” Barnett said.

In other activity, Barnett, the chairman of the communitycollege appropriations subcommittee, will be meeting Tuesday withthe presidents of the state’s 15 community and junior colleges. Hesaid he will hear their concerns but indicated that LegislativeBudget Office (LBO) funding recommendations, which includes smallraises for faculty and staff, likely will be followed.

“They’re probably going to have to live with what LBO hasapproved,” Barnett said.