Governors ask Bush not to cut Medicaid

[rodeodance]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/APWires/politics/D8751T0O0.html

Governors ask Bush not to cut Medicaid

By ALAN FRAM
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — The nation's governors on Wednesday urged President Bush not to shift additional Medicaid costs to the states in his effort to reduce the federal deficit.

The bipartisan plea came six days after another letter to Bush from the health-care industry, asking him not to propose carving savings from either Medicaid or Medicare. Medicaid provides health coverage for the poor and disabled, while Medicare helps cover the medical costs of the elderly and disabled.

A White House spokesman would not comment on whether Bush will propose savings from either program.


...Bush has said he believes automatically paid benefits - which include Medicare and Medicaid - should be considered for budget savings, but he has mentioned no specifics. Medicare is expected to cost more than $370 billion next year......

[aquart]

1. Republican governors asked?

You helped Bush get elected, boys. Now see how much he helps YOU.

[NVMojo]

2. * and his cronies need their welfare confiscated ....

[Erika]

3. Just another little cutback to the poor

They have no voice. Now if we were talking about cutbacks to Halliburton,...oh, another story for another day.

[scarletlib]

5. Just a little factoid:

We all think that Medicaid is "just for the poor" and so it is. However, one of the biggest components of medicaid and the most expensive is the Institutional Care Program (ICP), better known to most of us as Nursing Home Care. Cuts in medicaid will have a devastating effect on states and middle and upper middle class people who are putting a loved one in a nursing home.

The ICP rules do allow many of these people to get a loved one into a nursing home and retain a modest amount of assets so the remaining spouse is not also impoverished by the cost of nursing home care. In Florida we use a general estimate of 3600 dollars per month as the average cost of nursing home care. As you can see this amount is staggering and only the very wealthy can bear an expense like this over a long period of time.

I dread to wonder what devastation deep cuts in federal budgeting will cause to happen to many people in the states. If the states keep funding ICP cuts will affect the poorest of the poor still living in the community. If the states cut ICP funding--oh my god!

[Cooley Hurd]

6. Institiutional funding that was cut by Reagan in the early '80's...

...resulted in the homelessness we see today. I fear we'll see much more homelessness by the end of '06.:(

[scarletlib]

7. yes you are right.

Since I have spent my whole life in social work I saw the effects of those cuts.

I just don't know what is going to happen. Believe me the governors know that the bulk costs of Medicaid is the Nursing Home program even if the public does not.

Also, lets not forget the Chips program which has provided insurance coverage for many children of working parents both low and moderate income who could not otherwise afford insurance coverage for their children. These programs will probably also be cut.

[annabanana]

4. If you need to "ask".....

You ain't gettin' squat. You only "get" from this bastard if you can demand

[Tesla]

8. He can't!

He has to OK it with the "Powers that Be". (Cheney, Rummy)

Once they say it's OK, then he may bend.

He don't want to get into trouble.

[scarletlib]

9. kick

This is an important issue affecting so very many people in this country.