MEDICAID Cuts / Mental Health

Wednesday, March 19th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa area agencies that serve Medicaid patients sounded the alarm about possible cuts in services. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority is trying to deal with a 4.5 million-dollar budget shortfall.

It's looking at cutting benefits for infants, children, pregnant women, and nursing home patients with a certain income level.

It's also looking at eliminating prescription drug benefits for the month of June in certain categories, and at reducing provider rates.

The Mental Health association says the possible cuts would devastate the children it serves including 9-year-old Dakota.

Julie Summers/Associate Director, Mental Health Association of Tulsa: "Dakota will fall off the medicaid roles because of these cuts and he will be unable to get either medication or treatment for his bipolar disorder."

The Governor asked them to give him time to find the money. The Health Care Authority tabled the cuts until tomorrow.