SEATTLE — State and federal officials met Friday to discuss Washington’s bid for millions of federal dollars in additional Medicaid payments.
"We’re pretty far apart," said Doug Porter, state Medicaid director, although he added that the two sides made progress.
The state wants to revise funding formulas so Washington will get $379 million more in nursing home Medicaid payments than previously expected. Gov. Gary Locke is counting on this money to balance the state’s budget; his budget proposal assumed the state would get $350 million from the federal government under the nursing home Proshare program. The state faces a $1.6 billion shortfall.
Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that provides health care to the poor.
Woman enters modified guilty plea: A woman who was fleeing from police in a stolen vehicle when she crashed into a second car, killing a couple near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, has entered a modified guilty plea. Michelle Lynn Gunderson, 21, of Seattle entered an Alford plea Thursday in King County Superior Court, essentially admitting she would be convicted if the case went to trial but not directly admitting guilt. Judge Cheryl Carey set sentencing for May 3. Deputy prosecutor Amy Freedheim said she would seek an 18-year prison term, the high end of the standard range under state guidelines.
Washington
Cashmere
Student suspended after attack: A white student stabbed at Cashmere High School has been suspended, accused of making racist remarks to the Latino student charged in the attack. Mike Placencia, 14, was charged in Chelan County Juvenile Court with first-degree assault and possessing a dangerous weapon on school grounds in the attack on Dane Montgomery, 16. Montgomery was stabbed eight or nine times in the back on Feb. 21 just outside the school. "Evidence suggests the boy who was attacked made some serious racial, racist comments toward the Latino boy," principal Sam Willsey said.
Walla Walla
Woman gives CPR to dog that fell from pickup: A border collie that fell out of the bed of a pickup truck and was dragged by a rope down the street was recovering from its injuries Friday, thanks to a good Samaritan who gave the dog CPR. Elizabeth Paladeni, who saw the dog fall out, gave the dog mouth-to-nose resuscitation and massaged the dog’s chest, apparently reviving the animal. The dog was expected to go home soon.
From Herald news services
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