[Missouri-l] Medicaid

[Julie Chinn]

OMG!!

 

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From: missouri-l-bounces at moblind.org [mailto:missouri-l-bounces at moblind.org]
On Behalf Of Denny Huff
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 7:34 AM
To: ew at moblind.org
Cc: Missouri-L
Subject: [Missouri-l] Medicaid

 

JEFFERSON CITY  . A $28 million Medicaid program for the blind would be
eliminated and the money shifted to higher education under a recommendation
made

by a Missouri House appropriations committee today. 

 

The proposal, which now goes to the House Budget Committee, is apt to cause
a political stir. Even former Gov. Matt Blunt's 2005 Medicaid cuts didn't
touch

aid for the blind, who have been covered under a special part of Missouri's
Medicaid program since at least 1967. 

 

The amendment was offered by Rep. Tom Flanigan, R-Carthage and chairman of
the House Health, Mental Health and Social Services Appropriations
Committee.

 

 

No mention was made at the meeting that the special health care program for
the blind would end. The amendment was worded in a technical fashion, citing

dollars and page numbers. When asked by Rep. Jeanne Kirkton, D-Webster
Groves, to explain the impact, Flanigan declined. 

 

"It was like a kangaroo court," Kirkton said later. 

 

The Post-Dispatch could not reach Flanigan for comment. He told the Columbia
Daily Tribune that his goal was to shift about $65 million from the social

services budget to higher education. 

 

In addition to cutting the program for the blind, Flanigan's amendment cut
about $12 million from subsidized child care and lesser amounts from other
social

programs. 

 

Combined with $40 million from a national mortgage settlement that Gov. Jay
Nixon wants to use on higher education, the savings from social services
would

allow the Legislature to reinstate this year's level of funding for the
state's public colleges and universities. 

 

Because the blind aren't held to income standards, the state can't draw
federal matching funds for their care. The state picks up the entire health
care

tab for about 2,858 people on the Blind Pension Fund and Supplemental Aid to
the Blind. 

 

Deborah Greider, a St. Louis attorney who represents the Missouri Council of
the Blind, said the proposed budget cut "would be a terrible dilemma for
these

vulnerable people, to be left with no ready access to medical care." 

 

The budget amendment does not change the monthly cash benefits - called
pensions -- distributed to people who are at least 18 years old and are
totally

blind. That money comes from a small statewide property tax.    

 

Virginia Young

is the Post-Dispatch Jefferson City bureau chief. For updates on Missouri
politics and the legislative session, follow her on Twitter 

@VirginiaYoung. 

 

 

 

____________________________________________________________________________
_

Denny Huff- President

Missouri Council of the Blind

P: (636) 262-1383

TF: (888) 362-1383

F: (314) 558-0298

Phone Cast: (816) 298-8969

 

DHuff at MoBlind.Org

www.moblind.org

The purpose of Missouri Council of the Blind shall be to promote the general
well-being of our members and legally blind people in Missouri, and to
support

or participate in other programs promoting the best interests of legally
blind people everywhere.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE JOURNEY

Your host: Denny Huff

Listen live,

SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 8:00 AM CST

WWW.KLPW.COM

 

 

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