KCstar: Group protests Medicaid reductions (MO)

[usregimechange]

JEFFERSON CITY — Opponents of state Medicaid cuts on Friday marked today’s anniversary of what they said was a broken promise by Gov. Matt Blunt. At a news conference in the Capitol, disabled people with a group called Missourians for Health noted that during an Oct. 22, 2004, gubernatorial campaign debate in Springfield, Blunt spoke against cutting Medicaid eligibility requirements.

During the debate, Blunt, a Republican, said, “We should preserve eligibility requirements,” and “it’s the right thing to do.”

“We took it as a promise that he would not cut Medicaid programs,” said Mike Griffin, a 51-year-old paraplegic from Linn, Mo., who spoke at the news conference.

However, Blunt and Republican lawmakers this year tightened Medicaid eligibility requirements, eliminating health-care services for 90,000 people. The state also cut many Medicaid services and equipment that are optional to provide under federal law, such as batteries for wheelchairs and hearing aids.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/12966993.htm

[Robbins]

1. Medicaid

I am one who lost all health Insurance because of Blunt. Although unlike some In Missouri I didn't vote for him.

[Fovea]

2. you also need to wright Rod Jetton

Mo Speaker of the House, because he is becoming a Blunt apologist over medicaid.

[hadrons]

4. you can thank Gary & Vivian Ruckel for that ....

GERSTER, Mo. - Gary Ruckel, like most rural Missourians, backed Matt Blunt for governor last fall and voted other Republicans into legislative seats.

Ruckel agreed with Blunt on issues such as gun control and gay marriage, but he was not considering a subject that hit much closer to home: medical care.

So when Blunt proposed cuts in Medicaid last month that could cost Ruckel and his wife, Vivian Ruckel, some services, the couple had second thoughts about backing Republicans.

"It kind of jumps back and kicks you in the teeth, is what it does, because I wasn't planning on this," said Ruckel, who lives about 50 miles north of Springfield. "If they cut back on Medicaid, it's going to crucify us, because we don't make that much."

....

Ruckel and his wife, both 64, said they were among those in need. Ruckel, a former police officer and prison guard, has emphysema, arthritis, a spinal defect and other ailments. His wife is in worse shape, suffering heart and lung ailments, and kidney disease. She tires quickly and cannot do much outside the home. Ruckel is on nine medications; his wife is on 21.

With a combined income of $1,357 a month, mostly from Social Security, they qualify for full payment of medical and pharmacy bills through Medicaid. Both are classified as workers with disabilities because Ruckel works on lawn mowers and his wife does sewing, making about $60 a month combined, he said.

....

http://www.tilrc.org/docs/0205mocuts.htm

With a combined income of $1,357 a month and the hubby suffering from emphysema, arthritis, a spinal defect and other ailments and wifey with suffering heart and lung ailments, and kidney disease they were worried about gay marriage :eyes:

[dmr]

5. They voted for a man who supported issues that had little to no

possiblity of affecting them; while ignoring the fact that Republicans are notorious for cutting life-sustaining benefits for which they have a dire need.

In good conscience I can't say they are getting their just rewards for setting themselves up for this because that would be cruel, but damn, I'm hoping that they and others will start to think things through before they cast another vote.

[nookiemonster]

10. Yup. Good 'ole Matt Blunt.

Son of Roy Blunt, one of the most corrupt fuckers in the House.

Sorry, it's hard for me to feel pity for sheer ignorance. Whoever voted for Matty boy made their bed.

Unfortunately, we're all gonna pay.

:mad:

[jillan]

3. Did Medicaid get cut across the whole US?

I haven't heard it yet. I know it gets thrown out there alot.

[scarletlib]

6. Not sure but here are some I know about::

Mississippi had big cuts this year. Also Tennessee greatly reduced its TennCare program. Here in Florida the jebster plans to move lots of medicaid patients into some kind of privatized network managed care programs but no cuts per se. The state tried this crap in the early nineties and it was a big rip off. Lots of companies screwed over medicaid patients big time while getting big bucks from the state. I think the new plan will be about the same.

[usregimechange]

7. Medicaid is a state and federal program. There was talk

of a federal cut but not sure if they went through with it or not.

[area51]

8. republinazi party = cult of death. (n/t)

[sarcasmo]

9. Most of them protesting probably voted for MR Danger.

Which is why I nominated this page. A sign of things to come when the poor and disabled who voted for MR Danger because he was going to over turn Roe V Wade are now realizing that they made a mistake.