Friday, April 29, 2005

Judge bars TennCare cuts again Story in The Tennessean - "A federal judge has halted TennCare cuts — again — saying the state's policies and procedures for ending health-care coverage for 323,000 people would violate their constitutional rights. State lawyers said they would immediately file an emergency appeal with the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge William J. Haynes throws into question once more the fate of TennCare enrollees and Gov. Phil Bredesen's plans to overhaul the financially troubled program. It also may have an impact on the state budget process, which the governor has said hinges on keeping the TennCare budget in check."  
  

Congress Passes Budget That Cuts Medicaid Las Vegas Sun story - "A $2.6 trillion budget outline barely approved by Congress will cut projected spending on Medicaid for the poor, lock in tax cuts and - Republicans claim - put the country on a path toward lower federal deficits. Democrats unanimously opposed the spending outline passed late Thursday. They said the budget reflects the president's misplaced priorities by freezing or trimming health, education and agriculture programs while cutting taxes by as much as $106 billion over five years. The vote was 214-211 in the House and 52-47 in the Senate. The budget resolution is nonbinding, but it sets critical guidelines for lawmakers as they make decisions on taxes and specific spending programs for the 2006 fiscal year that begins October 1."