[Nfbmo] Fw: [Missouri-l] Fw: cuts for the Blind/Medicaid

[fred olver]

A member of the MCB queeried Representative Ryan Silvey concerning health benefits for blind folks in Missouri, below is his response.

Fred Olver
    
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Anne Murphy 
To: Education and Welfare Legislative mailing list 
Cc: mo chat list serve ; scccb mailing list ; MO List Serve 
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 11:47 AM
Subject: [Missouri-l] Fw: cuts for the Blind/Medicaid


This is what he wrote in response to my email to him.  
Tell me what to say back.  
I want to cry. 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Ryan Silvey 
To: Anne Murphy 
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 10:56 AM
Subject: Re: cuts for the Blind/Medicaid


Dear Ms. Murphy,


Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding this issue. Please know that this decision is not made lightly, nor is it meant to be in any way "mean-spirited."  I certainly don't hold any hostility toward anyone with a disability, blind or otherwise, and do not in any way minimize the struggles they deal with on a daily basis. 


I believe there are many misconceptions around this issue due to the oversimplified reporting of it and now the politicizing of this issue by the Governor and certain special interest groups.  According members of the Missouri Federation for the Blind that I have spoken with, approximately 1% of the population is totally blind. Missouri has over 6 million people, therefore there are approximately 60,000 totally blind individuals in the state of Missouri.  The program under discussion deals with approximately 2,800 of these individuals, or less than 5%, that have an income and whose income is too high for them to qualify for Medicaid. These 2,800 individuals are costing the taxpayers of the state of Missouri almost $30 Million per year.  


According to the statistics, over 57,000 blind individuals will not be affected at all by the elimination of this program and those that would be affected are, financially speaking, not the most vulnerable. In fact, according to federal guidelines, they don't even qualify as disabled for Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI.


We "means test" Medicaid programs for a reason. "Means testing" is placing income guidelines on a program to ensure that we are truly taking care of those individuals that have no other option. If someone is paraplegic and makes too much money to qualify for Medicaid, the state does not pay for their medical bills. Similarly, if someone is deaf, or autistic, or quadriplegic and their income exceeds the Medicaid requirements, the state does not pay for their medical bills. In fact, the only disability that receives this subsidy, regardless of their income, is blindness.


In addition to making an income and having the state pay for all of their medical bills, these individuals also receive a payment from the state of over $700 per month known as the Blind Pension. This is also unique in the disability community and will still continue if the proposed elimination of medical coverage goes forward. In other words, these individuals would make an income in excess of Medicaid requirements and have a $700 per month stipend from the state that could be used to help secure medical coverage from another source. 


Believe me, nobody likes to be the one recommending a decrease in services for anyone with a disability. However, given the current fiscal situation of the state facing a $500 Million deficit, and the Governor's continued recommendations for cuts in education, I am absolutely confident that if this program did not currently exist and someone proposed creating it, there is no way it would be created at this time. Due to the inequity of providing so much assistance for such a small percentage of one particular disability, to the exclusion of all other disabilities, and the enormous cost of about $30 Million annually, it is difficult to justify continuing this subsidy.  


Emotionally, we would all like to be able to provide more for those who are disabled. Realistically, I believe it is unsustainable to continue doing so for a population whose income exceeds the Medicaid eligibility for anyone else who is disabled.


While you may still continue to disagree with me, I hope you will at least be able to see that there are logical reasons behind the decision and not just "mean-spirited" efforts at cost cutting. 


Thanks again for contacting me with your views.


Ryan Silvey
State Representative
District 38
Chairman, House Budget Committee






On Mar 21, 2012, at 10:04 AM, Anne Murphy wrote:


  I am now 48 years old and began losing my vision at age 35 slowly. 
  I attended Rockhurst University as a sighted student and have many family and friends in the KC area.  I call KC my second home
  Your attempts to cut aid to the Blind/Medicaid is not thought of highly by my family and you will lose votes for this. 
  They know my struggles as a blind person and my expenses and health care expenses.
  I urge you to reconsider your opinion on this matter. 
  My KC family and friends will not vote for you again if you do not.
  Anne Murphy
  St. Louis, MO




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