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MEDICAID CUTS TO IMPACT THOUSANDS April 10, 2005 Susan Bates

In an effort to control spending, Governor Matt Blunt has slashed the budget for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services by $14.9 million. These cuts will result in an estimated loss of 200 administrative jobs; reduce the money allocated to the Area Agencies on Aging which funds transportation services such as the OATS bus, meals on wheels, and respite care; decrease community health programs; eliminate funding to public health agencies which help purchase flu shots; decrease funding for the purchase of TB medications and immune globulin to prevent Hepatitis A; reduce funding for TEL LINK, a program which helps parents get health services for their children; reduce funding for education, diagnosis and treatment for people with genetic disorders; reduce funding for Arthritis Centers; eliminate funding for the WIC and Senior Farmers Market programs; and the list goes on. But one of the most disturbing cuts is to the Medicaid program. The new law would eliminate at least 125,000 people from Medicaid rolls and halt funding for crutches, wheel chairs and dental work. Medicaid will be eliminated after June, 2008, whether or not a replacement program is in place. Blunt's claims that Medicaid is too costly flies in the face of the facts. For every dollar Missouri taxpayers spends on Medicaid, they receive an additional $1.57 to $2.68 from the federal government. The loss of these funds will cut deeply into the revenues paid to hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, nursing homes and other health care providers, including the in home care services. According to an article written by Leighton Ku and Judith Solomon for the Center For Budget and Policy Priorities, "A recent study, based on analyses by economists at St. Louis University, indicates that this loss of federal funds would have repercussions across the state and lead to the loss of about 10,000 jobs and more than $700 million in economic activity in Missouri." I keep hearing about all the people who abuse the system. I know some people do. But it seems to me that the biggest abuses come from the inside. When a person is given 12 to 15 prescriptions at one time and when medical tests, xrays and procedures are over prescribed because the funding is there, isn't that abuse? Perhaps these cuts are a blessing in disguise. When people are forced to quit taking all of these drugs whose side effects often compound their illnesses, some of them may get better. Traditional medicine understands that illness is caused from being out of balance. There are many ways to regain that balance; among them are herbs, ceremony, acupunture, meditation and the support of community and clan. Because of these cuts, many people are going to be forced into a lower standard of living. Unfortunately, most of the ones who are responsible for the decline will remain on top of the economic heap. But this is how it has always been. I talk daily to people who are proud to be Indian and many others who wish they were. Most of them have never experienced group genocide. I think we'll all get that chance now. This time, though, it will be a broader, kinder genocide. While health officials warn of an influenza pandemic, the government does away with money to pay for flu shots. New medical miracles are happening every day allowing more and more people to survive catastrophic illness. But who will have access to them? Only those who can afford insurance or have good health care through their jobs. And as more and more health workers lose their jobs, unemployment figures will rise, forcing more people into poverty. Genocide of the poor. Before the coming of the white man, native people lived by the clan system. Some still do. Every need was taken care of and not one penny nor one deer hide was taken for taxes. The genocide of indigenous people included destroying that system. Now we stand in need of it more than ever. The sad part of it is, without the shared knowledge, beliefs and the blood ties, it will be almost impossible to get back to that good way of life. In the 1970's people tried communal living, but it didn't work then and it probably won't work now. As more and more people slip back through the cracks, as hunger and hopelessness increases, each of us must do whatever we can to help our fellow man. We will make it through this crisis and be stronger for it. And rest assured there will be a day of reckoning to come. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

The following sources were used for facts for this article: "Medicaid Cuts Would Hurt Mo. Economy, Study Says" By DAVID A. LIEB, Associated Press which appeared in the Columbia Missourian on April 9th; the April 9th issue of The Springfield News Leader; and "Is Missouri's Medicare Policy Inefficient and Out of Step" by Leighton Ku and Judith Solomon writing for Center For Budget and Policy Priorities. The opinions are my own.

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