Missouri legislature abolishes Medicaid
From the Kansas City Star:
Medicaid, the program that provides medical services for our neediest residents, has been eliminated by the Missouri legislature, effective 2008.
To prevent this from occurring, a petition has been generated to allow Missouri voters in November 2006 to determine whether Medicaid should be reinstated. Therefore, more than 100,000 signatures are needed by Sunday.
On Sunday, many congregations will be providing opportunities to support this initiative. Taking action by signing a petition and circulating it in your place of worship helps fulfill mandates in the Bible and other sacred writings to care for the most vulnerable in society.
The elimination of Medicaid means no provision of health care of any kind for some people with chronic, disabling conditions, including no wheelchairs, no oxygen, no dental or eye care, or no diabetic supplies.
Among the people who would be affected are some children whose parents make minimum wage, who are without means to pay for health care or insurance after paying for other basic needs such as rent and food.
It also would affect nursing home residents, some of whom have zero resources and zero family. Are they to be turned into the streets?
For many working poor, access to medical care and necessities related to disabilities allows them to have health stable enough to allow them to work. Without access to health care, many people with precarious health won’t be well enough to work.
People without resources or access to health care will have no choice but to forgo medical treatment. Without health care, supplies or medication, as health declines, many people will only be able to obtain health care on an emergency basis, at a greater cost to themselves and society.