Tuesday, February 22, 2005

National Governors Association Analyzes President's Budget, Medicaid Proposals NGA press release at their web site - "President Bush's $2.5 trillion fiscal 2006 budget includes a 1 percent decrease in non-defense discretionary spending less homeland security. The health care changes include a $60 billion reduction in Medicaid spending over 10 years; $16.5 billion Medicaid and SCHIP spending increases; and several health care-related federal tax incentive provisions totaling about $125 billion over 10 years to expand insurance coverage." See also NGA's Analysis of the Proposed FY 2006 Budget (Adobe Acrobat format) and the San Francisco News Chronicle story, Governors Oppose Bush's Medicaid Cuts.  
  

Medicaid cuts threaten mental health services (Washington) King County Journal story - "King County could lose about $10 million and hundreds of mentally ill people in the county could end up on the streets July 1, unless the state Legislature comes up with $82 million to restore federal Medicaid cuts statewide. The loss of the federal funds will affect thousands of people across the state. Already, hundreds of mentally ill people have been turned away from community services. Experts say many of them will end up in jail, on the streets or in emergency rooms if they can't get help anywhere else. The state has already cut its funding for the mentally ill in King County, lopping off $40 million in six years..."