Posted on 06/13/2004 6:46:05 PM PDT by WKB
JACKSON, Miss. - In 1999, when the economy was robust and Mississippi's budget was flush, lawmakers voted to expand the state Medicaid program.
Instead of allowing coverage only for people with incomes up to 100 percent of the poverty level, legislators stretched the upper limit to include people with incomes up to 135 percent.
It was, lawmakers said, the right thing to do in one of the poorest and unhealthiest states in the nation.
Now, with a sluggish economy and an ever-tightening state budget, Mississippi is cutting Medicaid eligibility back to 100 percent of poverty level, amid protests from some lawmakers who say the changes are cruel and heartless.
Using current federal poverty guidelines, that means the income cutoff is $9,310 for one person at 100 percent of poverty level instead of $12,569 for one person at 135 percent.
Dr. Warren Jones, executive director of Mississippi Medicaid since January, acknowledged the changes will be difficult for many people but said they're necessary to keep the program financially solvent.
"When we used to have a $150 million surplus in the Medicaid program, we could say we want to expand that population, give them additional services," Jones, who was appointed by Republican Gov. Haley Barbour, said in an interview with The Associated Press last week.
"Now we're running a $200 million per year deficit. So we've got to find a way to really continue to provide those essential services and still make this program available," Jones said.
The changes are set to take effect July 1, and 65,000 Medicaid recipients have been sent letters saying they're being removed from the program. Medicaid is paid by state and federal dollars and provides coverage for the needy, aged, blind and disabled and for low-income families with children.
About 60,000 of those people will be covered by Medicare, which is paid completely by federal funds, but there are widespread concerns that the Medicare prescription coverage will leave some with burdensome out-of-pocket expenses.
Barbour says he's seeking federal waivers to let Medicaid keep covering the other 5,000 people. But the state won't know until after July 1 whether the waivers are approved. That's the first day of the state budget year.
Barbour also is asking federal permission to guarantee continued Medicaid coverage for four groups of patients: those who have undergone organ transplants, those with end-stage kidney disease who need dialysis, cancer patients who are taking chemotherapy or radiation and people on anti-psychotic drugs.
The bill passed by lawmakers and signed by Barbour specifies the need to continue coverage for transplant, dialysis and cancer patients. Jones said Medicaid officials made an administrative decision to continue coverage for those on anti-psychotic drugs.
Kathy Snyder of Leakesville received one of the cutoff letters and told lawmakers last week she doesn't know how she'll manage. After working at discount and grocery stores all her adult life, she says she has undergone back surgery and two hip replacements and has had heart problems.
She takes 13 prescriptions, seven of which are paid by Medicaid and six paid by her children.
"Are we all supposed to walk to the highest cliff in Mississippi and jump off?" a tearful Snyder asked during a meeting of the House Public Health and Human Services Committee.
Legislators approved the Medicaid changes during the final days of their regular session last month, but some now say they regret doing so.
Most House members say they want Barbour to give them a chance to keep those 65,000 people on Medicaid - but it's looking unlikely that Barbour will back off the moneysaving measure.
"I am not sure exactly how it happened, but I apparently have a new physician," Kathy Jean Brown of Tupelo, who's losing Medicaid coverage, told lawmakers at the Capitol last week.
"Without actually accessing the medical records which chronicle the schizo affective disorder I have, Haley says that if I cannot afford to pay for the necessary medications and office visits on my own, even though it is the only way I am functionally 'normal,' then the state of Mississippi will not help me, either," Brown read from a letter she had written.
Rep. Mark Formby, R-Picayune, says he voted against expanding Medicaid five years ago. But like many in Barbour's own party, Formby now wants to keep benefits for everyone who's been on the program.
Formby said he "took a lot of abuse" over voting against expansion of Medicaid in the late 1990s.
"Certain things are predictable," he said. "If you spend more money than you have, you're going to get in trouble."
However, Formby said he believes it's wrong to take away benefits people have come to rely on.
"It's cruel," he said. "It's giving a kid a new BB gun for Christmas and then the next day taking it away."
Trial Lawyers own the Democrat Party. However, the Democrats do not own the Trial Lawyers. Miss is a disaster most and first because of the lawyers.
I am not saying you are wrong but where do you get your information?
It has had a ruinous effect on the state's economy. The jury box in Miss is a Spite Venue--they are chosen to Sticking It To The Man. The Man being whoever has enough money to take away.
One small example of how it works--suppose you are a class-action lawyer and want to sue a drug mfger. You drag your local pharmacy into court (to establish how this drug relates to Miss) so that you can also drag the drug company to Mississippi. What do you think this does to your pharmacy, especially when it happens time and time again?
Did you know Gov Haley Barbour is signing major tort reform bill?
Who runs the Miss Supreme Court--? The law will be challenged, certainly, by the hugely powerful trial lawyers.
To get an idea of how powerful they are, consider that the Fla tobacco settlement was 11B dollars. Billion, as in Bonanza and Bodacious. Two Billion of that went to a single law firm, of which Hillary's brother is a partner.
Tithes of this money go right back into campaigns for those who serve the lawyers.
If Miss is successful in challenging the power of these mobsters, they'll be on the path out of the swamp.
I wish you wouldn't be so harsh about our state.
I see from you page you must be a little ashamed of your state you won't even fly your state flag.
Here you have government "thought" in action. The state is poor, so spend more of the money from the taxpayers on perks to reward the poor - subsidize the indolent lifestyle rather than give them incentives to work. I begin to see why MS is poor.
Well know fact is that the poor aren't hard working. Those families with the lowest incomes usually work in aggregate less than 20 hours a week. Those families with the highest incomes usually work 100 hours or more a week.
I believe Mamzelle is originally a Carolinian and yes she does have issues with "us"..lol...on occasion.
That is mostly true no doubt.
Thomas Sowell has something to say on that subject also - The link is his column from a couple of weeks ago on that very subject
"Why is Mississippi such an armpit"
From your comments, it is obvious you don't know a damn thing about the state.
"highest percentage of black people."
Highest percenatage maybe but far from the highest number.
"Miss is a disaster most and first because of the lawyers."
You must have missed the part about torte reform being passed that is being hailed by the insurance industry as a model.
The damage done will take years to overcome even under ideal circumstances. Miss still has to compete with other states.
I'm originally a Texan and even a Balmermerlin--figure that one out!
--and I happen to love Mississippi. I just really hate lawyers in general, though there are a couple of individuals I'm fond of....
If you can slap down your lawyers, just about anyone can! Slap 'em down. I'm rooting for you. But it's not over yet. What kind of Supreme Court does Miss have?
Now we're running a $200 million per year deficit.
Does anyone wonder why? You do the math.
Thank you for your 2 Cents of GOLD.
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