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House modifies Blunt's Medicaid cuts

March 10, 2005
By: Tim Carnahan
State Capital Bureau

A Missouri House subcommittee has reduced some of Governor Blunt's proposed cuts to Medicaid, but Missouri kids would pay the price. Tim Carnahan has more from the state Capitol.

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OutCue: SOC

The House plan would charge parents enrolled in Medicaid's insurance program for children.

Children of families making up to $58 thousand dollars per year are eligible for insurance coverage through the program.

Saint Louis county Democrat Margaret Donnelly says the change just puts Missouri's kids and the disabled at odds.

Actuality:DNNLY1
RunTime: 8secs
OutCue: "...children's health care against the disabled health care."
Contents: "What we've basically done is pit groups against each other; we're pitting children's health care against disabled health care."

Despite much public protest, Republican legislators say Missouri's budget can not be balanced until Medicaid is cut.

From the state Capitol, I'm Tim Carnahan.

###TDC###

A House plan softening some of Governor Blunt's proposed cuts to Medicaid could make it both easier, and harder for Missouri's disabled to get healthcare, and Missouri's kids may pay the price. Tim Carnahan has more from the state Capitol.

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OutCue: SOC

The House plan would keep more elderly and disabled from being cut from Medicaid by charging parents with children enrolled in Medicaid's insurance program for kids.

But, the plan would also add roadblocks for disabled applicants, raising the minimum level of disability required to get coverage.

The Governor's spokesperson Spence Jackson says cutting Medicaid is part of a long-term budget fix.

Actuality:SPENCE3
RunTime: 8secs
OutCue: "...do the things we want to do."
Contents: "We can't keep expanding social welfare programs, we can't keep expanding government and expect to be able to do the things we want to do."

State Democrats say Governor Blunt broke a campaign promise to not cut the Medicaid rolls.

But, Republicans say the budget can not be balanced until the cuts are passed.

From the state Capitol, I'm Tim Carnahan.

###TDC###

A Missouri House subcommittee has reduced some of Governor Blunt's proposed Medicaid cuts to the elderly and disabled, and some Missouri parents may get the bill. Tim Carnahan has more from the state Capitol.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The House plan would charge parents enrolled in Medicaid's insurance program for children.

The bill would keep more elderly and disabled from being cut from Medicaid due to income.

However, it would also add roadblocks for disabled applicants, raising the minimum level of disability required to get coverage.

Saint Louis County Democrat Margaret Donnelly says even with the changes the bill has the wrong priorities.

Actuality:DNNLY4
RunTime: 9secs
OutCue: "...the bill doesn't do it."
Contents: "We have to make our first priority taking care of children, the elderly and the disabled and this bill doesn't do it."

But, state Republicans say the state budget can not even be balanced without cuts to Medicaid.

They say Medicaid is a drain on Missouri's economy.

From the state Capitol, I'm Tim Carnahan.