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A new legislative report recommends that Virginia consider a tighter cap on profits for insurance companies that manage care for most people in the state’s Medicaid program. The report delivered Monday to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission also suggests that the state Medicaid program increase its oversight of inefficient spending by managed-care companies — estimated at $17 million to $36 million last year compared with other states — and improve its forecasting of costs in setting rates that insurers charge on a monthly per-capita basis to manage care. (Martz, 12/12)

A new study of Virginia’s Medicaid program has identified ways to cut millions of dollars out of the yearly budget. Media outlets report that the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, a watchdog group, released its report Monday. (12/13)

At 59 years old, Bill Miller is starting to have neck and back problems. Thirty-two years of bending over to check patients’ teeth and gums will do that, he said. Miller is the only dentist in Hill City, a community of about 1,500 people northwest of Hays. He has treated Medicaid patients his entire career, even as reimbursements increasingly have lagged the cost of providing care. Earlier this year the state cut those reimbursements another 4 percent as part of a host of emergency budget-balancing measures. Miller said that has him seriously considering dropping out of the Medicaid program. (Marso, 12/12)