Bill includes misguided Medicaid cuts

To the editor:

The U.S. House is once again about to vote on a budget bill that could deny health and long-term services to people who cannot afford it by making misguided cuts in Medicaid.

Medicaid is not just the major source of health care for millions of vulnerable lower-income Americans. It is also a primary source of nursing-home coverage for millions of older Americans who cannot afford the cost of long-term care. As the devastating hurricanes showed us, Medicaid is a critical safety net.

AARP is opposed to changes in the House bill that would penalize older Americans who have helped family members or given to charity. We agree that real loopholes should be closed, but there is a right way and a wrong way to do this. Helping family members and contributing to charities is not a loophole. It makes little sense to penalize people for helping their family or charity.

The bill also weakens current rules that prevent spouses of nursing-home residents, generally older women, from slipping into poverty. And it eliminates a crucial protection by allowing states and providers to deny essential care to people who cannot afford premiums and co-pays.

The good news is that in early February U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson will have the opportunity to do the right thing and stand up for the most vulnerable among us. The 755,000 AARP members and all Missourians will be watching this vote closely.

ILENA ASLIN, AARP Volunteer Associate State Coordinator for Community Service/Education, Cape Girardeau