Medicaid cuts for Oklahomans

Massive cuts to medical programs that help the needy in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority voted Wednesday to cut $17-million from Medicaid programs. <br><br>That affects 80,000 Oklahomans,

Wednesday, September 18th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Massive cuts to medical programs that help the needy in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority voted Wednesday to cut $17-million from Medicaid programs.

That affects 80,000 Oklahomans, many of them children. News on Six Reporter Patrina Adger tells how one family will have to cope.

â€œCutting back on Medicaid and cutting back medical is ridiculous. We can't afford that." Kathy and Steve Morris say they can barely make ends meet now. Steve is unemployed. Kathy sells flowers at nightclubs. She says that brings in about $14,000 a year." I don't even like to open them."

Kathy's daughter was sick and had to be in the hospital. She says medical bills were close to $8,000. The Morris' say Medicaid is only picking up a quarter of the bill. The rest is up to them. "$5,000 and they are still coming in. If they cut back Medicaid and a kids gets sick, parent gets sick, oh well."

Some children in Tulsa are no longer eligible for Medicaid after the Oklahoma Heath Care Authority made its cuts. Health officials say the cuts will affect the working poor. Specifically pregnant women and children in family households with annual incomes of 133% below the poverty level. Up until now a family of four with an annual income of $33,500 was eligible for Medicare.

Now, the annual income for the same family would be less than $24,000. Cutting medical care for thousands of Oklahoma children who desperately need it. "Ours is 200% of the poverty level and we don't plan to change it."

The Oklahoma Caring Foundation started by Blue Cross/Blue Shield provides insurance for kids not eligible for Medicaid. Executive Director Ann Metcalf says the program covers primary and preventative care, not comprehensive care. "It'll cover this child if it needs to go to the doctor for anything, ER for life threatening."

She says she's worried how the cuts will affect the children. She says the caring foundation will help as many children as they possibly can. "But we wouldn't be able to help all the 40,000 children left."

Board members also voted to suspend the Medically Needy Program, which helped people who need financial help after a major accident.