COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Lawmakers in the South Carolina House will reduce the number of low-income children eligible for Medicaid programs next year and reduce to three the number of prescriptions patients can get.
Those are elements of the cost-cutting budget that House members were considering on Wednesday as they cut costs to balance a $5.1 billion spending plan.
The current budget covers children whose parents have income of twice the federal poverty level of $29,327 a year for a family of four.
The proposal closes the program to newcomers whose parents earn more than 150 percent of that level.
State Rep. Tracy Edge said that would save more than $3 million.
The proposal also saves $10.7 million by limiting Medicaid patients to no more than three prescriptions.
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