Government
Missouri to cut Medicaid benefits
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 25, 2005
The Missouri Legislature has signed off on a plan to restructure the state's Medicaid program by cutting benefits, such as dental and hospice care, and ending coverage for such equipment as eyeglasses, artificial limbs and wheelchairs.
State officials estimate that the changes will affect about 50,000 adults. The plan also would affect about 50,000 children, whose families would be required to pay premiums of up to 5% of their incomes to keep the children in Missouri's State Children's Health Insurance Program.
Changes would be instituted only as needed to curtail the growing cost of Missouri Medicaid, which now covers one in six residents at an annual cost of $5 billion, the legislation's supporters said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/04/25/gvbf0425.htm.
