The state's health care programs for the poor -- one of the largest and fastest-growing areas of state spending -- could face a legislative audit into whether they're spending taxpayer money effectively.

The Legislature's audit committee on Wednesday will hold a hearing and could vote on a proposed audit into spending increases in the state's $5.9 billion-a-year Medicaid programs. The state's programs include more than 1 million poor children, parents, childless adults, and elderly and blind residents of the state.

"It's time to take a close look at Medicaid, because the cost of the program is growing at an unreasonable rate," said Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Green Bay, who is pushing for the audit. "The state is facing tremendous budget difficulties, and we need to find out if this money is being spent in the most efficient manner."

State Health Services spokesman Seth Boffeli said the agency in charge of the programs is looking to hold down fast-growing health-care costs as well as it can.

"We believe we're doing so in the most cost effective way we can but if the Legislature wants to take a look at it, that's their purview," he said.