The Face of the First Steps, Medicaid, and other service cuts
Submitted by General Content on Thu, 03/10/2005 - 3:34pm.
This is a forum to discuss the real world impact of the proposed cuts to First Steps, Medicaid and other vital services. Share your first person stories, experiences providing services, or other information you think people should know.
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Reform is necessary
Compassionate Carnivores
Folks,
I just read this on today's Kansas City Star (dealing with the latest round of cuts)....
Rep. Rick Johnson, a High Ridge Democrat, likened the bill to a National Geographic production that shows how predators often go after the weakest members of the herd. Several Republican lawmakers responded by making animal noises.
“That's compassionate conservatism,” Johnson retorted.
....People, The other day I listened to Sen. Bray and others talk abou the atmosphere in Jefferson City, and you could tell they were truly appalled and disgusted at what they were seeing. But, when you read something like this - it puts into a whole new, terrifying perspective. It is beyond belief. These are our elected representatives? These are vile, disgusting, loathsome chunks of fecal matter. There is no honor, no decency among these dogs. And the worst part is this crap is just rolling downhill. They learn it like a dog learns to kill chickens, they've got a taste of blood and there is no stopping them. It all comes form the scum at the top - Limbaugh, Hannity, Rove, Norquist, Delay, Scarborough, Hume, Coulter, etc. Take a good look at the American face of Fascism, folks. Now tell me what we can do about it. This deadly beast has emerged from its box, and it has grown so large and so loud that I don't know if we can ever get it back in. I didn't think that as an American that I would ever have to be afraid for my children and my children's children. Not from my own countrymen. But, I am now...and everybody else with a beating heart and a thinking mind should be too. God help us all........
My son is in First Steps
And I've alternated between fury and rage since the guv's proposed budget was released. I don't think he even took any time to research the facts about First Steps, in fact I'm sure he didn't.
My son has been receiving First Steps services for a severe speech and language delay. We live in a fairly rural area with few resources, so FS is that much more important.
Honestly, I have no problem with a sliding scale fee *as long as it is fair*. What is being proposed now is outrageous, especially for families whose children are receiving multiple therapies. My son is undergoing testing for autism, which is costing us $1200 out of pocket. We have the 'best' policy one can get under BCBS, and austism spectrum disorders aren't covered. We could be in the position of paying another $1200 per year for therapy. Where we would get an extra $2400 per year, I couldn't tell you. We aren't destitute, but we are a far cry from comfortable. It pains me to think of families that make less than ours being in the position of trying to provide therapy for their children.
It's much more cost effective to put money into early intervention programs. You'd think those 'conservatives' (cough, sputter) would realize this.
Medicaid cuts
You want personal stories? I've got one for you! I am a single mother, not by choice but because after three years and a few months of pregnancy my son's father decides he doesn't want to be tied down any longer. He leaves us and refuses to pay child support, quitting a job each time child support caught up with him. I am a full time college student pursuing a masters degree in social work. I am on medicaid. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in January of this year. I had a procedure performed which has a very high success rate. However, I will not find out if this worked until a return visit in May. I am one of the people who might be kicked off of medicaid if Governor Blunt's cuts go through. If my initial procedure was not a success I will be in a world of hurt. If I get cut from my only means of insurance I will not be able to afford the additional treatments that my form of cancer require for survival. In a few years when I am employed and able to get major medical coverage it still will not matter because the cancer will be a pre-existing condition. So I could potentially die from an extremely curable form of cancer due directly to Governor Blunt and his proposed cuts.
Medicaid does need to be overhauled, but this is not the way to do it. Please write your legislators and tell them you will not support them in future elections if they are not willing to support their constituents.
I am so sorry to hear about this
On insurance
A Face on the Cuts
I am a 44 year old woman living in Salem. I just happen to be blind and subsisting on less than $500 per month from the Supplemental Aid to the Blind program. I cannot work or even get private insurance because of uncontrolled seizures, and multiple pre-existing conditions that would preclude me getting any form of private insurance. I have been denied SSI because I do not fit into their neat little diagnostic boxes. The CA-PAS program enables me to pay my attendant for at least five of the many hours he is needed by me, something I was not able to do for the eight years he had been doing this for me before I came into the program.
These cuts and reorganization of the CA-PAS program may mean that I may not be able to keep paying my attendant and that my Nebulized treatments will not be available to me in the future because I can't afford the cost. I will also be like many of my friends and be trying to divide my meager income between food, utilities and prescriptions.
I was once proud to be a Missourian. Now I am almost ashamed!
I am NOT disABLED
Its not just the cuts here