Louisiana Medicaid program running under-budget this year

Louisiana's Medicaid program is spending at a slower pace than expected this budget year and could leave the state with a surplus in six months if expenditures remain on their current path.

The latest forecast released this week shows the $12.5 billion government-financed health program may spend as much as $650 million less than projected for the budget year that began July 1.

Most of that amount will be unused federal spending authority — not dollars that can be allocated to other state government programs and services. But the Department of Health says about $30 million of the amount, if the trends remain on track, would be a state general fund surplus that could be spent elsewhere in state government.

The new projections are a rare development in a program with 1.6 million enrollees that traditionally grows in price tag each year, and often requires new infusions of cash midyear — or cuts — to stay in balance.

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