States Cut Health Spending on the Poor

[JPace]

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MEDICAID_CUTS?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

States Cut Health Spending on the Poor

By MARK SHERMAN
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- More than 1.2 million low-income Americans, including 500,000 children, have lost health coverage as a result of state cutbacks in programs for the poor, according to a new study by a liberal Washington think tank.

Thirty-four states have cut health insurance programs for the poor and children because of deep budget deficits over the past two years, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said.

Further cuts are likely next year, when a temporary federal government increase in its share of Medicaid expires, the group said. Medicaid is the joint federal-state health insurance program for the poor.

"Cuts of this magnitude in health coverage for low-income families are unprecedented," said Leighton Ku, a senior fellow at the think tank.

The report is being released Monday with a state-by-state survey of cuts and restrictions in coverage. The center provided a copy to The Associated Press.

more....

[tlcandie]

1. Fallout....

duck and cover. Very sad state of affairs and with this new health insurance/medicaid whatever bill our seniors are next. :cry:

Poor child no vaccination - no school - no job for Mom :(

I dont' know what to say..

[never cry wolf]

2. The $87 B. appropriations bill for Iraq

Would have paid off all the states' defecits, not to mention the rax cuts for the most priviledged.

[revcarol]

4. Can't have guns and margarine,

at least not without inflation.Bush has taken away the margarine so there is next to nothing.

Kucinich has the right idea: reduce the defense budget by 15 % without any loss of capability of the armed forces.

[kainah]

5. And make them give back the $1 trillion they can't account for

It's too bad the 'pugs have never seen fit to consider "waste, fraud & abuse" in the Pentagon. But then, poor people aren't as good at providing mega-million salary jobs for out-of-office politicos.

[cryofan]

3. cut defense budget in half and double taxes on the rich--problem solved!

resist corporate media neoliberal propapganda!

[mmm]

6. By George, you've got it!

[specimenfred1984]

7. New Compassionate Conjob, "No Rich Child Left Behind"

That's 1.2 million dem votes if they can be motivated to vote in 04.

[jmcgowanjm]

8. tax top 1%,the one USresource that leaves behind no hazmat site

We were talking about MS foster homes yesterday,
and people were surprised that abuse of children
was occurring.

Folks, I don't know how anyone can be surprised
w/ what's going on in US today.

Hunger and Homelessness Increase in U.S

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031218/ap_on_re_us/hunger_homelessness_1