Medicaid Cuts To Cause Lay Offs, Some Mississippi Hospitals Will Not Survive

[tiredofhaleybarb our]

Does everyone really understand the issue surrounding the Medicaid cuts proposed by Governor Haley Barbour? He is not willing to use rainy day funds or increase tobacco taxes to fund Medicaid. His only solution is to tax hospitals, physicians and nursing homes. Most hospitals across the state of Mississippi were cut millions of dollars in funding last year. Some laid off employees, many reduced employee work hours to 32 hour work weeks, some reduced employee benefits....and now our governor wants to cut Mississippi hospitals again. What most people do not know is that hospitals throughout the state write off millions annually and they have done this for years. Their mission is to provide excellent care to the residents of Mississippi regardless of their ability to pay.

Health care workers throughout our great state cannot understand this move by our governor. The same governor that pulled us through Hurricane Katrina--the same governor that has worked hard to create new jobs in Mississippi--has made it clear. If one of the three proposals to cut payments to hospitals is not approved during the upcoming special session then Governor Barbour will do whatever is necessary to fund Medicaid-- cut reimbursements to hospitals, doctors and nursing homes--0h.....except increase the tax on alcohol and tobacco...or use funds out of the rainy day fund. And of course our elected officials have made it clear--either the Governor allows them to include a tobacco tax or funds from the rainy day fund in their proposal or they will adjourn the moment they begin meeting. So...what happens? I will tell you what happens. Millions of additional dollars will be cut from hospitals in our state that are already at break even or operating at a deficit. Does our Governor understand that if he cuts millions from Mississippi hospitals that they will have to lay off hundreds of employees. If our Governor cuts payments to physicians--they will leave our state. They have too many opportunities to go elsewhere. It is hard enough for hospitals and clinics to recruit doctors to Mississippi and if doctors begin leaving the state (like they did during the tort reform issue) then others will certainly not come here.

The same governor that is trying to create jobs does not understand that hundreds of health care workers will be unemployed if he continues in this manner. PLEASE....someone needs to get his attention.

There has been a great deal of information in the press about Governor Barbour's allegiance to the tobacco industry. As we all know...his lobbying firm in Washington has firm ties to the tobacco industry. Mississippi has the lowest tobacco tax in the nation--Mississippi has a huge deficit in our Medicaid program--sounds like an easy fix. Add a $1 tobacco tax and the Medicaid program will be funded. But no....the governor said just last week that he does plan on increasing the tobacco tax later...but the funds will not go to health care.

Mississippi--we put Governor Barbour in office. We have to take a stand on this issue. Not only will Mississippi health care workers lose their jobs but spin off companies will relocate if hospitals can no longer afford to purchase their goods and services.

The reimbursement to physicians and hospitals through the Medicaid program is already low. So if the reimbursements are cut deeper, then many physicians will not be able to afford to continue to see Medicaid patients in their practices--and these patients will flood into our emergency rooms which are already overcrowded. Health care costs in our state will sky rocket...and many hospitals will close their doors. Is this good for Mississippi? No.

Please write Governor Barbour and make it clear--we have to protect our health care system in Mississippi.

I want to hear from others about this issue.

[Jane Byars]

What happens when the next problem comes up? Tax on twinkies?
Why not just tax the air we breathe. Or tax SUV's for using more gas than smaller engines.
How about taxing that fat person for taking up more room on the street.
Geesh.

[tiredofhaleybarb our]

You obviously are not well read---are you aware that states across our country have instituted sin taxes--tax on alcohol and tobacco? I don't believe I have heard about any twinkie taxes. You are OBVIOUSLY a smoker. Continue to smoke--it is your right--but increase the taxes so we can cover the shortfall in Medicaid. Otherwise, your local hospital will not be available to treat you if you get cancer.

[Mississippi Dave]

State lottery with all proceeds for Medicaid. I'll spend a buck or two a week.

[tiredofhaleybarb our]

Mississippi Dave wrote:

State lottery with all proceeds for Medicaid. I'll spend a buck or two a week.

That is a great idea, but the casinos will not have it. WE NEED A TOBACCO TAX. It is the right thing to do.

[Jason Armstrong]

Hope Haley is ready. Under the current Medicaid structure 54 of the 105 hospitals in MS operate at a deficit. With his cuts > 90 will. Every hospital that delivers newborns with medicaid loses money on each delivery, and that is if the baby is born without complications and goes home the next day. Guess babies will be born in ER's and at home from now on. Maybe he has a plan to open delivery drivethrus where you receive a carton of low tax cigarettes and a 6 pack.

[tiredofhaleybarb our]

Jason Armstrong wrote:

Hope Haley is ready. Under the current Medicaid structure 54 of the 105 hospitals in MS operate at a deficit. With his cuts > 90 will. Every hospital that delivers newborns with medicaid loses money on each delivery, and that is if the baby is born without complications and goes home the next day. Guess babies will be born in ER's and at home from now on. Maybe he has a plan to open delivery drivethrus where you receive a carton of low tax cigarettes and a 6 pack.

You are so right. He is trying to make it sound as though our legislative officials do not know what they are doing by wanting a tobacco tax. Is he kidding? It is the only thing that makes any sense. It is the governor that doesn't have a clue. Hundreds will be laid off if he continues with his plan to slash Medicaid reimbursement to hospitals. Services will close. Some hospitals will close. Physicians will leave the state. All I seem to hear about is if the governor does this that hospitals will increase their charges to patients to make up for the shortfall. Most hospital charges are capped due to federal programs...so their hands are tied. Why is nobody really talking about the hundreds that will lose their jobs? Haley...do you think hospitals are bluffing? Get the facts. You will absolutely bankrupt health care in Mississippi if you continue with your plan.

[Jeffalyn Trammell]

I am a speech pathologist and a Medicaid provider. I work with Head Start children primarily.
Since the beginning of the Barbour regime what I've experienced in the Medicaid program is the worst kind of bad business practices. Actually, my small rehab company closed 2007-08 due to Barbour influence in Medicaid.
So sad-- I served many autistic children.
The ramifications of crummy health care for the poor of this state are TREMENDOUS.We will all be affected for years to come.
Tobacco should be taxed. Not hospitals. Medicaid providers can just barely stay afloat as is.

[specialascanbe]

when it comes to saving lives there should be no choices. do what need to be and that's tax tobacco this way he'll help both party the poor and those who smoke. maybe those who smoke will stop when cigarettes sell for five dollars a pack.

[FedUp]

I just want to comment on these posts now that the 92MILLION dollar "oops" has been found. What about those of us who were LAID OFF due to the cutbacks? Do we now get an APOLOGY from our government for that 92 MILLION DOLLAR bookkeeping error? I had been at my job for 16 YEARS and got laid off due to these cutbacks. NOW,to hear it was all a oopsie mistake?????? AND now apology to us?