Show Medical Care Cost Too High Says Director In an effort to control Medicaid Medicaid Medicaid Medi- Medi caid costs for indigents which now have reached a monthly rate of 12 million dollars the Utah Division of Family Services Services Services Ser Ser- vices has instituted the following following follow follow- ing cost reduction programs reports Richard P. P Lindsay Director 1 An immediate reduction of 10 percent on all inpatient and outpatient hospital billings 2 2 Physicians are being re requested requested requested re- re quested to assist in reducing the amount of drugs and costly medical services prescribed 3 A utilization review program pro pro- gram for all Title 19 Medicaid Medicaid Medicaid Medi- Medi caid nursing home patients has been initiated 4 Each beneficiary of the Medicaid program has been ad advised advised advised ad- ad to request only essential medical services provided by bythe the Title 19 program if the medical program is to continue 5 Caseworkers have been directed to help recipients to use medical services more dis- dis ly to report any cases of abuse of medical privileges and to encourage greater financial financial financial fin fin- ancial contributions from re relatives relatives relatives re- re of n nursing u rs i n g home pat pat- These decisions follow a meeting with Governor Calvin CalvinL L L. L Ra Hampton Rampton held for forthe the purpose purpose purpose pur pur- pose of finding ways of providing providing providing pro pro- viding medical services within within within with with- in the budget for needy per per- sons Letters are being sent to all Medicaid recipients and caseworkers caseworkers caseworkers case case- workers c call calling a 11 I n g attention to their responsibility in controlling controlling controlling control control- ling the expenses of this pro pro- gram Governor Rampton is expected to convene a meeting within the next few days to discuss discuss discuss dis dis- dis- dis cuss this matter further with representatives of the S State tat e Medical Association |