MEDICAID CRISIS COULD IMPACT CALHOUN

(04/15/2005)
Medicaid cuts by the Bush administration could be putting the delivery of health care in a real crisis in West Virginia.

If the State of West Virginia does not come up with funds to fill a $30 million dollar gap, the reduction will dramatically impact the ability of Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center to provide care for many citizens.

It could cause problems in health delivery to the county, according to CEO Barb Lay.

"We plan to be here and provide services," Lay said. "Those areas which have high Medicaid and few insured citizens could really be hurt."

With the loss of funds through the Federal Matching Assistance Program, health services could severely impact hospitals, physicians and the delivery of services around the state.

The state matches $1 for every $3 in federal funds.

Lay is asking citizens to call Governor Manchin's office at 304-558-2000 and ask that he please consider replacing the $30,000,000 back into the Medicaid budget for the next fiscal year.