HealthNet legislation leaves community advocates cold
subscribeMaria Ines Zamudio
Springfield News-Leader
Patty Goss wants to be independent.
After all, she was born on the Fourth of July.
Goss and other community advocates held a news conference Monday to express disappointment with legislation signed earlier in the day by Gov. Matt Blunt to enact MO HealthNet.
Senate Bill 577, or MO HealthNet, made 2005 budget cuts to Medicaid permanent. The new law lessens medical assistance for workers with disabilities and reduces coverage for physical therapy, except for pregnant women, children, the blind and some people with other special circumstances, said Shelby Butler, policy advocate for the Southwest Center for Independent Living.