Mississippi families fear potential Medicaid cuts

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) -There are looming concerns of potential cuts to Medicaid at the federal level. And families in Mississippi say that would be like cutting off their lifeline.

“We believe actions, your votes, not your rhetoric and not your words,” said Dr. Scott Crawford, Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities board member. “Protect Medicaid now.”

“Medicaid helps me now by paying for my medicines I need,” explained Lucy, who has autism, ADHD, and other mental health issues. “If I don’t have my medicine, I would feel like a blank piece of paper without any drawing.”

To fully understand these pleas, let’s back up to what’s happening in Washington. Questions came up quickly after House Republicans unveiled their budget plan that included directing one committee to find $880 billion in cuts over the next decade.

The Congressional Budget Office indicates that would likely have to include Medicare or Medicaid to meet their target. The Speaker is adamant that it won’t.

Still, these families fear the unknown.

“Medicaid has not been cut yet,” said mom Florence Bass. “Yet being the operative word here.”

They’re hoping to open people’s eyes to the lives Medicaid touches and saves.

“They need to understand that cutting Medicaid is not just a policy decision,” described Pam Dollar, executive director of the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities. “It is a direct attack on families, on people with disabilities, on children, on seniors.”

Susan Stearns is a mom who is hopeful there won’t be a change to upend her family’s use of Medicaid.

“Oscar accesses Medicaid by means of what is called a ‘disabled child living at home waiver,’” Stearns said about her son. “This type of Medicaid is often lost within broader discussions of health care policy. My husband and I both work full-time, and Oscar is covered by our employer’s insurance. Oscar uses Medicaid, as what is called ‘secondary.’ Medicaid pays for the programs and services that our employer’s insurance does not cover.”

The group is also requesting state lawmakers to again consider Medicaid expansion. But those efforts have stalled out as they wait to see what happens at the federal level.

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