Read more: State, Politics, Health
JEFFERSON CITY -- Elements of Governor Matt Blunt's plan to reform healthcare for low-income people are already under attack. One group says the so-called "Healthcare Home" concept is about 700,000 people short of their support.
With Medicaid scheduled to end next year, Blunt is pushing a Missouri Healthnet program based on the idea of consumers taking more of the responsibility. One aspect of that is the "Healthcare Home", a primary care facility where a low-income patient’s medical history is tracked and treatment of all kinds is coordinated. It would make the information available to appropriate healthcare professionals, therefore minimizing the occurrence of contradictory or duplicative services.
Health homes are also intended to keep people without private doctors from showing up at hospital emergency rooms and driving up the cost of medicine. Critics say the homes do nothing to provide healthcare for some 700,000 Missourians who do not qualify for public assistance, but who have no employer-provided benefits.
Ron Berry is with "First Things First" Coalition. "Before the general assembly starts with new frills to the healthcare system, we need to address the damage done to all Missourians by the 2005 Medicaid cuts," says Berry.
The governor will outline other aspects of his plan for healthcare reform Wednesday, January 24th during his State of the State address. KRCG will carry the speech live, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
