NYT: States Propose Sweeping Changes to Trim Medicaid by Billions

[DeepModem Mom]

States Propose Sweeping Changes to Trim Medicaid by Billions
By ROBERT PEAR
Published: May 9, 2005


WASHINGTON, May 8 - Governors and state legislators have devised proposals for sweeping changes in Medicaid to curb its rapid growth and save billions of dollars.

Under the proposals, some beneficiaries would have to pay more for care, and states would have more latitude to limit the scope of services.

The proposals, drafted by separate working groups of governors and state legislators, provide guidance to Congress, which 10 days ago endorsed a budget blueprint that would cut projected Medicaid spending by $10 billion over the next five years.

Many of the proposals resemble ideas advanced by President Bush as part of his 2006 budget. In some cases, the governors embrace Mr. Bush's proposals but go further. At the same time, they also reject some of the president's recommendations that they believe would shift costs to the states....

***

A coalition of beneficiary advocates, labor unions and health care providers is already gearing up to fight any significant cutbacks in Medicaid. The coalition includes AARP, Families USA, pediatricians, hospitals and nursing homes....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/09/national/09medicaid.html?hp&ex=1115611200&en=78df747bc97cab95&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. The poorest take it in the shorts again.

As usual.

[PartyPooper]

2. $Billions spent on war whilst reducing $billions spent to save lives.

It just doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

[Robert Oak]

3. Where is the outrage on the actual costs?

The buracracy, the lack of affordable immediate care, the "churning"
(this is demanding someone come to more office visits than necessary),
the prescription drugs, the TV ads for prescription drugs, insurance companies record profits, the "import" of inferior doctors while
making it impossible/completely unaffordable to complete medical
school as a US citizen...the inefficiency with medical records,
with billing, with the inability to get copies of your own medical
records without paying some whopping fees and on and on and on...

I do not think I saw one article one call to action, except from
John Edwards on the campaign primary talking about making it illegal
for drug companies to advertise on television...

and that's about it.

[gumby]

4. Hey, it's the 'Culture of Life."

translation: Die Fodder Units.

(Al Martin has 'reported' that George H W Bush refers to underlings as 'fodder units; and W is just a worse chip-off-the-ole-block.)

[lakeguy]

5. does this even save any REAL money in the long run...

more people will have to wait things out until they're in need of emergency care and then who will pay, all of us. pretty soon no one will have insurance or medicare and then we'll all end up in the ER. who the hell benefits from that?