Two years ago, the same committee for similar reasons mentioned Tuesday told the health department to keep tabs on similar efforts in other states but to essentially put the cost-cutting plan on hold. Although Medicaid clients, providers and area hospitals had endorsed setting up cost controls such as prior authorization, use limits and more generic drugs, others told lawmakers a PDL is fraught with hidden costs and medical practice hang-ups.

Along with the PDL discussion, the appropriations committee was presented with two audits Tuesday:

• Although it improved during this year's general session, there is still a problem with new buildings being approved for higher education facilities without adequately considering the impact of future operation costs, according to the legislative fiscal analyst. To ensure that colleges and universities can provide the ongoing funding for new buildings, the same subcommittee which approves the new construction will also have to make sure that there is adequate funding budgeted for future maintenance. They will also separate the costs of building maintenance and program funding when considering the ongoing costs.

• The intent language inserted into appropriations bills needs to be better monitored to prevent ongoing funding for a program to be granted when only one-time funds are actually budgeted, according to the legislative fiscal analyst. During the last session, intent language was reduced by almost 50 percent because of directives from legislative leaders, but analysts said it could be restricted further. To facilitate that, they will label any intent language from the 2005 session that they feel was unnecessary or went beyond the purpose of such language.

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E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com