Monday, July 4, 2011

States Drop Circumcision Funds From Medicaid

A nationwide debate about circumcisions for newborn boys, combined with cash-strapped public health budgets, has Colorado taking sides with 17 other states that no longer fund Medicaid coverage of the once widely accepted procedure.

For years, Colorado lawmakers considered doing away with funding for circumcisions under Medicaid—a move that would save the state $186,500 a year.

Now facing a budget shortfall estimated to be $1 billion at the beginning of this year, lawmakers finally approved the change, which takes effect July 1. "I think 99% of it was completely economic," a Republican senator said.

http://www.newser.com/story/121867/states-drop-circumcision-funds-from-medicaid.html