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Medicaid coverage will be cut in several areas

April 29, 2003
By: Nishi Gupta
State Capital Bureau

The Senate passed a bill that would allow Missouri to temporarily halt coverage of several Medicaid programs.

Nishi Gupta has the story.

The bill would cut forty million dollars from Medicaid coverage by eliminating funding of dentist and vision appointments. Bill sponsor Senator Wayne Goode of St. Louis County says senior citizens will be affected the most since they are the primary users of Medicaid. But he says something had to be done to address Missouri's budget crisis.

Actuality:wgoode1.wav
RunTime: 10
OutCue: "pretty tough."
Contents: "None of this is easy to do and you're faced with trying to put a budget together on one hand and the other hand- curtail services that are very much needed. So it's pretty tough."

But, opponents of the bill, such as Senator Harold Caskey of Western Missouri, say it is unfair to balance the budget on the backs of Missouri's seniors.

The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

From Jefferson City, Nishi Gupta, KMOX News.

Medicaid users would have to pay for their dentist appointments or eyeglasses starting in August, according to legislation passed in the Senate.

Nishi Gupta has the story.

Under the bill, Missouri would temporarily stop coverage of some Medicaid programs, including dentist appointments and eyeglass purchases. The bill would also eliminate co-pays for prescriptions and other various services. Bill sponsor Senator Wayne Goode of St. Louis County says the state would save forty million dollars, but senior citizens would feel the greatest impact since they use Medicaid the most. Goode says the decision was hard to make, but was necessary.

Actuality:wgoode2.wav
RunTime: 8
OutCue: "tough decsions."
Contents: "While most of us would rather see these programs in place and working...when you get a budget like this, it's tough decisions."

But opponents, such as Senator Harold Caskey of Western Missouri, say Missouri is turning it's back on senior citizens with the bill.

The bill will now go to the House for further consideration.

From Jefferson City, Nishi Gupta, KMOX News.

Medicaid users would have to pay for their dentist appointments or eyeglasses starting in August, according to legislation passed in the Senate.

Nishi Gupta has the story.

Under the bill, Missouri would temporarily stop coverage of some Medicaid programs, including dentist appointments and eyeglass purchases. The bill would also eliminate co-pays for prescriptions and other various services. Bill sponsor Senator Wayne Goode of St. Louis County says the state would save forty million dollars, but senior citizens would feel the greatest impact since they use Medicaid the most. Goode says the decision was hard to make, but was necessary.

Actuality:wgoode2.wav
RunTime: 8
OutCue: "tough decsions."
Contents: "While most of us would rather see these programs in place and working...when you get a budget like this, it's tough decisions."

But opponents, such as Senator Harold Caskey of Western Missouri, say Missouri is turning it's back on senior citizens with the bill.

The bill will now go to the House for further consideration.

From Jefferson City, Nishi Gupta, KMOX News.

tal Bureau

Medicaid users would have to pay for their dentist appointments or eyeglasses starting in August, according to legislation passed in the Senate.

Nishi Gupta has the story.

Under the bill, Missouri would temporarily stop coverage of some Medicaid programs, including dentist appointments and eyeglass purchases. The bill would also eliminate co-pays for prescriptions and other various services. Bill sponsor Senator Wayne Goode of St. Louis County says the state would save forty million dollars, but senior citizens would feel the greatest impact since they use Medicaid the most. Goode says the decision was hard to make, but was necessary.

Actuality:wgoode2.wav
RunTime: 8
OutCue: "tough decsions."
Contents: "While most of us would rather see these programs in place and working...when you get a budget like this, it's tough decisions."

But opponents, such as Senator Harold Caskey of Western Missouri, say Missouri is turning it's back on senior citizens with the bill.

The bill will now go to the House for further consideration.

From Jefferson City, Nishi Gupta, KMOX News.