The end of Medicaid funding????

The end of Medicaid funding????

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com)
Young children in Massachusetts will lose state-funded mental health
services. Welfare recipients will see their employment and training
programs slashed. And homeless families will lose nearly all their state
assistance to move into more permanent housing.

Massachusetts lawmakers had to make these and other difficult cuts
last week after discovering they had to slash another nearly $700
million out of the state budget. The Bay State had assumed Congress
would pass $24 billion in additional Medicaid funding for states before
their fiscal years start on July 1. But that money hasn't materialized.
In fact, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., effectively killed
the bill last week after deficit-wary Republicans blocked it for a third
time.

So officials in Massachusetts and 29 other states that counted on the
funds to balance their budgets are left with the task of slashing services
and payrolls once again. Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire has warned
that if the Medicaid money doesn't come through, she'll have to cut
6,000 jobs to plug a $480 million budget gap. But if state officials wait
until January, the figure would rise to 12,000.

money.cnn.com...

[edit on 28-6-2010 by boondock-saint]

This could bankrupt state budgets and send chaos
when those checks don't show up. And further
the recession/depression by cutting thousands of
state jobs across all the states affected. The Feds
could cripple state economies. Is this a tactic of
the Fed government?

Your thoughts???

[edit on 28-6-2010 by boondock-saint]

reply to post by boondock-saint



Perhaps I missed it, but where did it say that people would not be getting checks do to these cuts?

I can see issues if medicaid is cut, but what that means is people will have to rely on charity hospitals, instead of having a choice of medicaid Dr.'s.

In any case, a hospital cannot turn you away, whether you have insurance or not. So really, who will loose out are hospitals, who will see an influx of patients for non emergency care.

Originally posted by Blanca Rose
Perhaps I missed it, but where did it say that people would not be getting checks due to these cuts?

well if the state does not get the funding for those
services, then somebody is not gonna get a check
for those services.

Doctor's who bill for state medicaid funding for
mental health services will not get a check
from the state.

reply to post by boondock-saint


I've worked at hospitals, and for Dr.'s. Believe me, if patients lose their medicaid benefits, the Dr.'s just won't see 'em! So, these people will just flock to the emergency room for whatever they need.

Originally posted by Blanca Rose
In any case, a hospital cannot turn you away, whether you have
insurance or not.

No they won't turn you away
but they can:

make you wait in the hallway for hours and hours
while they see patients who have regular
insurance and leave you long enough that you leave
due to frustration. I have seen that happen.

They can leave you sitting in the waiting room
for hours for the same reason.

reply to post by boondock-saint


Yep, I hear ya. I have a friend who uses a charity hospital (she's sick and cannot work) and she asked me to take her for a scheduled proceedure one day.

Even though it was scheduled, we were there for 8 hours!

When cutbacks are needed, you must first diminish the impoverished, and children, by taking what little they have.

There must be a book which specifies this on every shelf of every governor in the country.

But...Isn't it to be that when the new health care system goes into effect, the Medicaid funds will be funneled into the new system anyway.

Also I believe it specifies "mental health services" (to children) being cut back. Interesting. I wonder if it will still purchase psychoactive medications such as ADHD meds, which schools rely heavily on to maintain control of their classrooms?

Additionally Medcaid funding is used to subsidize therapeutic foster homes for mentally ill children, who cannot remain in their own homes.

Guess they can institutionalize these children. Yep. Let's bring back orphanages and vast mental hospitals where they can grow up, like they did in the 40's, 50's, and early 60's.

Or maybe they just want them to live under the bridges.

Those institutions were too expensive to operate, which is one of the reasons we got rid of them in the first place! Not to mention they are depersonalizing and inhumane.

reply to post by ladyinwaiting



Those are horrible scenarios you paint, indeed.

I have worked in the medical industry in Louisiana. People will figure out a way to work the system if benefits are cut, though. I've seen it quite a few times.

They will just establish residency in another state, using another persons address to get benefits, if it boils down to it!

Originally posted by Blanca Rose
They will just establish residency in another state, using another persons
address to get benefits, if it boils down to it!

that might be a thing of the past
since this funding stop will affect
up to 29+ states.

reply to post by Blanca Rose


Well then, that is indeed a shame. It's fraudulent to perpetrate this type thing you describe, but it's also absurd to be placed in the position of having to do so, particularly when you have dependent children involved.

Massachusetts is a relatively wealthy state. They should be ashamed. imo.
They could find another way to cut back, rather than targeting the poor and ill.

It's neither creative nor innovative, and should be beneath the dignity of the state of Massachusetts. Same ole same ole.

Here's an unpopular opinion: Perhaps their conscience died last year.

what pi$$es me off to no end is that the Fed Congress
will cut Medicaid funding for the State budgets but will
instead spend that very saved money on military
projects and increase the military budget.

What is wrong with this picture ???

I might give it some reasoning if their focus
was to cut spending and balance the budget
but to increase the military budget and leave
the kids out is just pathetic.