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Governor Holden’s budget cuts will cause undo hardship for millions of Missourians. The proposed changes to the Medicaid program will be devastating to me, because I have multiple disabilities; as do many disabled individuals. The first being cerebral palsy; second juvenile diabetes and third recurrent depression, which are stabilized using expensive medications. Since my income is above $545.00 a month I am on the Spend Down version of Medicaid.
The term spend down is simply another word for deductible. The process is similar to other medical insurance; the person does not have Medicaid until his or her spend down amount is met quarterly. The spend down amounts may vary according to the person’s monthly income.
Now an individual may use medical bills or pharmaceutical prescriptions however; Governor Holden is intending to sign budget changing several Medicaid policies. The first one being as follows: everyone with a spend down must use his or her monthly income to meet it, in other words pay the amount up front with no reimbursement.
Many disabled people must have Personal Care Attendants or P.C.A.’s to live more independently in there own homes which allows them to become an integrated part of society.
The majority of disabled people can’t afford to pay their Personal Care Attendants out of pocket. At the present time Medicaid pays for the hours a P.C.A .works. but the P.CA’s do not get paid until the spend down amount is met.
In my case I have a PCA that a lives with me. He does not get paid until my Spend down amount is met.
If Governor Holden signs the Social Services Budget I will not be able to afford my medication or to pay my PCA. I will also be forced to sell my home and be placed in a nursing home, looked away from society for the rest of my life.
In short, my life could be destroyed with the stroke of Governor Holden’s pen. If He signs the budget, the changes will take effect October 1 2002
It is my opinion that we must convince Governor Holden to hold a special session and not to sign the social services budget. I am not speaking just for myself, there are thousands of disabled people in the state of Missouri that will be in a state of panic and have to make life and death decisions on a daily basis if Governor Holden signs the social services budget.
Cindy Eckstein
Board of Directors
Services for Independent Living
573-449-6418
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