In an attempt to reduce state spending and balance Missouri's budget, a Republican-led House committee voted Wednesday to eliminate most Medicaid funding in a state program for children. Though Medicaid is indeed an area for cuts, the MC+ program is not the place to start. Gov. Holden, to his credit, has promised a veto. I doubt however the full House, much less the Senate, will approve the cuts.
The MC+ program provides health care coverage for 80,000 kids who fall in the low income category but just above the guidelines to fully qualify for Medicaid. In most cases these kids come from households where the parents - or parent - works but earned too little to provide full health care coverage. This program is beneficial and addresses the concerns of many middle to lower-income families. But these families - unlike the deadbeats who don't even pretend to work - do indeed work and provide for their own needs. But health care costs are so high that this program is important for our state.
What we do in this country is all wrong. We provide full benefits to those who do not work either because of circumstances beyond their control or increasingly, because they choose not to work. But what about the hard-working families who simply don't make enough to fully fund their health care needs? These should not be the first Missourians eliminated from coverage.
I have spoken with a dozen or so low income residents this year who visit a doctor weekly. And that is no exaggeration. They are all on Medicaid and all cost the taxpayers literally millions of dollars. And yes, none of these individuals work.
If we want to cut programs - and I think we should - it is this population that should be first addressed.
With traditional welfare programs on the decline, a segment of the population has turned to SSI or disability claims to supplement their limited resources. I know this for fact and can prove it. These questionable claims of disability suck a fortune from taxpayers. It seems cruel to remove coverage from working families and allow these bogus claims to mount. But that's exactly what is happening.
We must cut state spending. But we should closely examine the needs - the true needs - of those we funnel money to. If that were done our spending would drop substantially.