Health Care Authority (HCA) maintenance level increases make up the vast majority of all maintenance level changes in the 2016 supplemental operating budget proposals. If adopted, HCA maintenance level changes would increase spending by $159.1 million. We take a look at the issue in a new policy brief.

Briefly:

• The HCA administers Washington’s Medicaid program.
• Maintenance level changes in the 2014 and 2016 supplemental budgets have been driven by the HCA.
• The HCA seems to have more trouble than other agencies in forecasting costs over a two year period.
• The Legislature has already increased funding for the state actuary to improve health care actuarial analysis.