This may be a very important and not talked about issue in the Social Security debate

[county worker]

I work for a county alcohol, drug and mental health services department. Under title XIX of the Social Security Act we are required to provide mental health services under the Medicaid State plan which for us in CA is called Medical.

If we do away with Social Security do we also do away with title XIX of the act? I don't have the answer and I have never heard it talked about.

I'm sure the right wing knows the answer. It could be a back door method to do away with Medicaid also.

Check out what title XIX is about.

http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title19/1900.htm

[arbusto_baboso]

1. Interesting analysis, and quite likely true.

I work directly with cash aid/food stamps/MediCal recipients. I don't think doing away with SS would directly do away with Medicaid, but it would certainly cut it back drastically.

Just one more reason to fight these fucking republicants every step of the way...

[damntexdem]

2. The entire act is unlikely to be repealed.

But I wouldn't be surprised if Title XIX (Medicaid) were severely amended to cut needed services.

And don't forget old Title XVIII: Medicare.

[fredamae]

3. That would be a great question to present to Paul Ryan

Seriously. Call Monday and ask. There isn't anybody "home" this week in DC.

We pay them salaries to go home a week out of each month (apparently) and vacation, play golf and fund raise.
sorry for going a tad off topic, but that really grinds my grits.

[notadmblnd]

4. Medicaid will be eliminated before Medicare

I posted this in another thread a few days ago:

"Tweety just did a segment on a poll in regards to cuts in Medicaid and Medicare. What was said is that- almost all parties want politicians to keep their hands off Medicare, but most conservatives have no qualms about cutting Medicaid.

One of those being interviewed said- that what most people don't realize is that- eliminating Medicaid will create a host of problems when it's time to put mom and dad in a home. Medicaid is what pays the nursing home bill, not Medicare."


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x931117

[Curmudgeoness]

5. I don't know the answer to your specific question, but

I understand that Medicaid is on the chopping block as well in the Paul Ryan plan/scheme.

A few lines from this link: http://mentalhealthcarereform.org/new-details-emerge-about-proposal-to-cut-medicaid-in-2012-budget/

"The Ryan proposal would drastically reshape Medicaid and impose dangerous levels of cuts on the program. It seeks to convert Medicaid to a block grant, capping the federal government’s share of Medicaid spending and making states responsible for meeting all additional costs. The result would be a $1 trillion reduction in Medicaid funding over the next 10 years."

[dehaiti]

6. The REAL Reason they want to dismantle SS

When you have social security deducted from your check your employer must contribute an equal amount. This matching contribution is what they want stopped and it is one reason they don't want the limit raised.
Think of the billions these corporations could use to increase their executives bonuses if they could eliminate the matching social security contribution.
You can bet that if it was only the working folks paying social security taxes the republicans wouldn't give a rat's ass.
Why the main stream media doesn't point this out I can only imagine.

[Monique1]

7. Medicaid is on the chopping block in Arizona

and our Gov Jan Brewer's son is in the state mental hospital here. I wonder who is paying for this?

[Curmudgeoness]

8. Excellent point, and I think that you are right on target.

Cut the shit out of taxes for businesses, no matter what the cost to society.

I was just playing with this idea in my head today---how for all of my working life, I have given over 6% of my gross pay for SS, and about 1.5% to Medicare on ever single dollar I have ever earned. Then it occurred to me what you suggest, that my employer has always matched that. This was a significant amount over my lifetime, and I am damned if they are taking this without giving what was promised. It isn't as if this was just "free" money to us.

[crickets]

9. Excellent point. -nt