For Immediate Release: for More Information Contact s11

PRESS RELEASE

State Rep. Margaret Donnelly

State Sen. Rita Heard Days

For Immediate Release: For more information contact: Sept. 30, 2005 Rep. Margaret Donnelly at (314) 791-7526 (573) 751-0100

Democrats on Medicaid Commission Object to Cancellation of Springfield, Southeast Missouri Hearings Will Continue to gather testimony With or Without Republican Support

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Democratic members of the Medicaid Reform Commission strongly object to the Republican commission chair’s decision to cancel hearings planned in Springfield and Cape Girardeau and announced today plans to continue the hearings with or without Republican participation.

Republican Sen. Charlie Shields, chair of the Medicaid Reform Commission, cancelled hearings that had been scheduled in southern Missouri, making it impossible for citizens from these areas – many of whom will be directly impacted by the commission’s policy recommendations – to voice their opinions about changes to the Medicaid health insurance system.

Commission Democrats wrote Sen. Shields last week asking that he reschedule the hearings. Sen. Shields’ refused, stating that the commission had already traveled “throughout the state” – despite the fact that the commission has not met in a single community anywhere in the southern or northeastern parts of the state, rural areas that have been particularly hard-hit by the Medicaid cuts passed this year by Gov. Matt Blunt and the Republican legislature.

“How can we possibly determine how to best meet the health care needs of all of our citizens if we don’t give them a chance to tell us what those needs are?” Sen. Rita Heard Days, D-Bel Nor asked. “The whole idea behind the creation of this commission was to gather public input on how our Medicaid system should be run. Instead, the commission has shut out the very people we should be helping.”

Days said Democrats will move forward with the commission’s original plan to hold public hearings in Springfield and Bootheel with or without the Republican members. They also plan to hold an additional public meeting in northeast Missouri, a region that was ignored in the commission’s original schedule.

Rep. Margaret Donnelly, D-St. Louis, noted that a memo released by Gov. Blunt’s Department of Social Services director may indicate the true reason behind the cancellation of the hearings. Even though the commission has yet to approve any recommendations, Director Gary Sherman stated in a Sept. 21 memo that “the department has been working intensively within the executive branch to craft a detailed blueprint for Medicaid systems redesign that puts flesh on the bones of the commission’s recommendations.”

--MORE-- “We are very concerned that Governor Blunt’s administration is implementing ‘commission recommendations’ before the commission has made any recommendations,” said Rep. Donnelly. “How can they develop a ‘detailed blueprint’ of something which hasn’t been decided? I guess they feel that hearing from real Missourians isn’t necessary because the decisions have already been made behind closed doors. But the Democratic committee members intend to go to all parts of the state to listen to suggestions from individuals struggling with the loss of health care.”

Days and Donnelly said the first hearing will be in Kennett on Oct. 11. The specific dates, times, and locations for the other hearings to be held in Springfield and northeastern Missouri will be released shortly. Citizens interested in testifying should contact Senator Rita Heard Days’ office by calling (573)751-4106 or emailing [email protected].