US states slash Medicaid

[Hannah Bell]

US states are imposing major cuts to Medicaid, the health insurance program for low income Americans jointly funded with the federal government. The cuts are being enacted in response to huge budget deficits in states throughout the country and a sharp increase in enrollment fuelled by the unemployment crisis...

Enrollment in Medicaid increased by 3.3 million between June 2008 and June 2009 to nearly 47 million cases, according to a study released Thursday by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Caseloads increased in every US state. In thirteen states, enrollment shot up by more than 10 percent. According to a new study by Families USA, for every 1 percentage point rise in the US unemployment rate, 1 million people become eligible for Medicaid and related programs.

Medicaid typically provides insurance to those who fall below the official poverty level, but only within certain categories: children, pregnant women, parents of young children, the disabled, and the elderly who require nursing home care. The program’s reach varies among the states, but the majority of Americans living in poverty—three out of five according to one estimate—are not covered by Medicaid...

Among the states likely to enact major cuts for Medicaid reimbursement are New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Maine, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Virginia, and Vermont. Maine is contemplating a 10 percent across-the-board cut, and New York Governor David Paterson is proposing to slash $400 million from Medicaid reimbursement...

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/feb2010/medi-f20.shtml

[Skittles]

1. sickening

[Yurovsky]

2. w/o single payer it'll only get worse...

I hope the progressive caucus can get it done. And BHO will sign it...

[Skittles]

5. we won't get what is needed

the question now is if we will get anything at all

[sandnsea]

3. Oregon taxed insurance premiums

So we aren't in as much trouble here as some other states. Unions aren't happy, but tough shit, they've got insurance and a good paying job. I'm equally worried about the kids and low-income workers and disabled. More states need to implement taxes to cover health care, whatever way that works.

[RB TexLa]

4. What medicaid and medicare pays providers needs to be slashed nationwide

once the government cuts what is paid for medical services private insurance will follow. That is what a public option can do, drive down what is paid out.

[Hannah Bell]

6. k

[cornermouse]

7. What a sick joke.

Its already difficult to find a doctor in Missouri who will accept medicaid. Most of them say they aren't taking any new medicaid patients and end the conversation. One doctor offered to let me fill out an application (yes, they actually called it an application) for my child.