(Columbia) February 3, 2006 - Governor Mark
Sanford says change is on the way for those on
Medicaid. But there are more questions about
efforts to reform the program and cut state
spending.
Sylvia Green has arthritis and needs extra
time to get around. She also needs her Medicaid
coverage, and worries about changes that might
be coming for the program. "I have to try to do
the best I can, I guess, to pay for it, because
I really want to stay on it."
This week, Congress voted to slash billions
in entitlements, including Medicare and
Medicaid.
That paves the way for a Medicaid reform plan
backed by Governor Mark Sanford which could mean
new co-payments for medical services, more
out-of-pocket expenses, and health savings
accounts. Those would allow participants to buy
private insurance or pay directly for their
health services.
Sanford says, "The only question with
Medicaid is are we going to be proactive or
reactive with regard to change."
The Governor's plan is designed in part to
save the state money, $300 million over a five
year period. Sanford says the plan will also
give Medicaid recipients like the ones at the
Read Street Senior Center more control over
their health care.
Critics still have doubts about how the
changes would affect people with low incomes.
Sue Berkowitz of the Appleseed Legal Center
says, "By just making changes to the Medicaid
program, that's not going to solve the other
problems we have with 850,000 people who can't
access affordable health care."
Outside the senior center on an
unusually warm day, Retha Dennis has a frosty
response when asked about the proposed savings
accounts, "Me and my husband, we go to a lot of
different doctors. That money would be used up
like that. Especially if you had just one stay
in the hospital."
Others told us it's too early to know what
the changes could mean for them. Some say there
might not be much they can do to keep their
health care as simple or affordable as they
believe it is now.
Reported by Jack
Kuenzie
Posted 7:55pm by Chantelle
Janelle
