Katrina and the federal government’s reaction to same will put Medicaid reform and other health care measures on the back burner for the foreseeable future. And, two of the key Senators on the Senate Finance Committee charged with finding $10 billion in reductions in Medicaid over the next five years have come out against the cuts.
Is an article in California HealthLine, Sen. Gordon Smith (R) was quoted in a letter to the chairman of the committee:
“Smith said, “I do want to reform Medicaid. But this is not the time to take on Medicaid, nor other entitlements for the poor. … To do it now is counterproductive and insensitive.”
In addition, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Rep. John Spratt (D-S.C.) on Wednesday in a separate letter asked Republican leaders to focus on Hurricane Katrina-related legislation instead of the planned agenda. They wrote, “Under the present circumstances, we believe it would be misguided to proceed with fast-track consideration of legislation that would place at risk services to those in need and divert resources that are necessary to fund the federal response to this tragedy.”
Katrina may well impact state Medicaid budgets as well, with the storm’s victims seeking medical care for acute and chronic conditions from the storm.
More to come.
Sep
15
