Health care and the corridor poor.

There is no denying that health care costs have increased at an alarming rate, partially fueled by the increased demand created by programs such as Medicaid. In 1983, the total Federal and state outlays for Medicaid were $35.6 billion. As the 1980s progress, we will see a variety of cost-containment strategies. These will include Medicaid prepaid capitation projects, the initiation of copayments and deductibles, and further tightening of eligibility criteria. However, in our zeal to contain costs, let us not lose sight of or exacerbate the plight of the corridor poor. There are alternatives that will allow us to incorporate the disenfranchised and uninsured during the coming decade.