By Carrie Pond
Frankfort, KY – Kentucky's Medicaid deficit is getting larger as more residents join the health program's ranks. Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Janie Miller says Kentucky's projected Medicaid deficit for the fiscal year ending June 30 is now over 231 million dollars. State Medicaid officials had been expecting a deficit of about $183 million. Spokeswoman Vikki Franklin says about 747 low-income and disabled residents are enrolled in the program, which is growing by about three thousand Kentuckians each month. Miller says the state's share of that deficit for the federal-matching program is about 69 and a half million dollars. The federal government pays 70 percent of the Medicaid program. Miller says state officials are hoping the federal government passes a stimulus package that would close the deficit.