Kensington Welfare Rights Union

Cuts Voted Down, but Fight Not Over

Due to pressure from the Kensington Welfare Rights Union and other organizations, the Pennsylvania House unanimously voted down Governor Rendell's proposed medicaid cuts earlier this week.

Speaker of the House John Perzel (R- Phila) introduced an amendment on Tuesday which contained the Medicaid (Medical Assistance) cuts which had been proposed by the Governor. After introducing the amendment, Rep. Perzel and all the other Members of the House- Republican and Democrat alike- voted against it.

We see this victory as a small concession in the context of a national heath care crisis that is sweeping the country state by state. Already in Tennessee, 300,000 people have been cut off of Tenncare. 400,000 others have had their coverage reduced.

In West Virginia medicaid recipients have been limited to only 4 brand name prescription drugs per year.

In Missouri, 100,000 people will be cut off of medicaid, effective this summer.

In New York, the state is threatened with $1 billion in medicaid cuts.

In North Carolina, recipients face proposed cuts to personal care services. 57,000 will be transferred to medicare and 8,000 will be cut off of medicaid altogether.

In Michigan, a proposed 43,000 people will lose their medicaid coverage. Others will be imposed with hospital and doctor copays that they can't afford.

In Mississippi, recipients will be limited to 2 brand name and 3 generic prescriptions each month, effective July 1.

In Florida, Governor Jeb Bush has proposed eliminating the state's Medically Needy Program as early as July 1. An overall $1.2 billion in cuts is proposed.

California faces a drastic $144.9 million in cuts this year, which will impose high premiums and limited dental care on medicaid recipients.

And in Ohio, a proposed 40,000 people will be cut from medicaid.

In the wake of these devastating proposals and already approved cuts, we in Pennsylvania feel far from safe. We must continue our fight for the right to health care in our state and throughout the country. We have no other choice.

Stay tuned for more information on our emergency human rights brigades that will be traveling to Tennessee and then other states to save health care everywhere.

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