Governors Oppose Bush's Medicaid Cuts (both Dems and Repugs)

[rodeodance]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=718&e=2&u=/ap/20050219/ap_on_re_us/rethinking_medicaid
53 minutes ago




By ROBERT TANNER, AP National Writer

Governors of both parties are uniting to oppose President Bush (news - web sites)'s proposed cuts to Medicaid while also pushing for much larger changes, arguing that soaring costs have forced a fundamental re-examination of the program that provides health care to 52 million poor, elderly and disabled.




Hearkening back to the state-inspired reforms of the welfare system a decade ago, governors already are experimenting with approaches aimed at cutting costs: market-driven reforms, multistate cost-sharing on drugs, technology that can reduce medical errors.

Now they're hoping to convince Congress and the Bush administration that they should be given more freedom to alter the $300 billion federal-state safety net. Many stress that while cutting costs they also want to broaden access to health care.

"Medicaid as it currently exists is non-sustainable in the long run. If you do the numbers, they just don't add up," said Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Democrat. "If we don't get Medicaid solved, what you basically do is put governors in the position where they've got to pick between grandchildren and grandparents."

The governors are up against the Bush administration's effort to rein in costs as it seeks to cut the federal deficit, and also against advocates for the poor and for health care providers who worry that a push to "flexibility" is just another way to cut people from care and shortchange the medical profession......

[benny05]

1. Not Surprised

States are hurting because of Bush's tax cuts on the federal level.

[hadrons]

2. check out Gary & Vivian Ruckel, A.K.A Gary & Vivian Moran

Medicaid cuts could carry a political cost, too

By KEVIN MURPHY

The Kansas City Star


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.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/10929121.htm

States Tennessee and Mississippi has taken a huge hit on Medicaid also, but voters like Gary & Vivian Dumb-Fuck will keep sipping the Kool-Aid

[Lizzie Borden]

3. I just don't understand where these people's brains are.

What the hell did they think was goinng to happen? Apparently even when you draw them a picture they don't get it.:eyes:

[Erika]

4. Yep, our country is going to hell in a hand bucket

while we give billions upon billions to other countries and for war-mongering, but the rednecks backed Bush in the last election. Another right-winger runs for president based on rhetoric and promises, and they'll probably back them also.

[MO_Dem]

7. Every fool that voted for little boy blunt

deserves the results of their votes. Surely their suffering will be greatly relieved by the knowledge that little boy blunt is protecting them from them heathen gays gettin' hitched and that he'll do whatever pappy blunt and Jesus Bush tell him to do.

[napi21]

5. I've got relatives in Pa. Told me medicare paitents OK 1 hosp. a year.

She did tell me about the copay too but I forget the amount. Raising from $5.00 to $8 or $9. The raise in copay isn't the biggest problem I see, it's the one trip to the hospital. How do you predict a hospital trip? What happens is someone needs emergency care 2 or 3 times?

Thanks, George!

[lovuian]

6. Healthcare in America is collapsing

and getting rid of Medicaid isn't going to help it!!!

[Yavin4]

8. Healthcare in America HAS Collapsed

Healthcare costs are the single biggest reason for personal bankruptcies. Healthcare care costs are the biggest job killers in America. Healthcare costs are the biggest reason why wages are not growing. It has collapsed, and it's taking the rest of the economy along with it.