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National Group Blasts Medicaid Proposal

By Kelley Weiss

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-577524.mp3

Kansas City, MO – Families USA, a national health care watchdog group, released a report today blasting Missouri's proposal to overhaul Medicaid. KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports.

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Researchers studied the Missouri HealthNet proposal that is slated to replace the state health program in 2008.

Ron Pollack, Families USA executive director, says the plan does not restore coverage to the 100,000 Missourians cut off Medicaid in 2005.

Ron Pollack: Missouri is not doing anything to ameliorate the second worst state cut backs in the history of our nation and that should be the first business.

Pollack says the state's most vulnerable residents - the poor, disabled and elderly - will automatically be enrolled in managed care programs. He also criticized the plan's vague language and healthy points system that rewards patients who quit smoking or lose weight.

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