quote:

ORIGINAL: erieangel

So what you're saying is because all these organizations have committed fraud, the people who have nothing except that $205 per month can now have even less--in that they won't even get that?

Those who commit fraud belong in prison. Those who are innocent don't deserve to pay for the fraud and abuse within the system.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

205 dollars a month... what do they lose?

The ability to pay for medications and co pays for what medicaid doesnt pay for.

My plan.. 4 dollars a co pay for any specialist...

Prescriptions limited to 6 a month, unless they are on the exception list...

Most cost a dollar a refill.. some 3.

Add to that the cost of transportation to Doctors.

205 doesnt sound like a lot to most people.... until its all you have.

My injury is bus related... and when a settlement comes through, I have to pay back the state for all the help it gives me.

And, now, it gives me even less.

~shrugs

I will make due. Some people cant.

quote:

Medicaid covers prescription costs. If they're poor and disabled, it's more than likely they're receiving other state benefits.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

quote:

Medicaid covers prescription costs. If they're poor and disabled, it's more than likely they're receiving other state benefits.

Medicaid.. PA Medicaid.. is what I am on.

The co pays on prescriptions are from 1 to 3 dollars.. not a whole lot.. My Lantus (insulin) is 6 dollars a month because I get it twice.

The co pays for specialists are between 2 and 4 dollars a month. There are other services that require a co pay.. up front money.


Some of the services that are covered by Gateway that may require you to pay a co-payment include:

Visits to specialists with a referral from your Primary Care Physician (PCP)
Allergy tests and shots with a referral from your Primary Care Physician (PCP)
Drugs for members age 18 and older, if eligible for medicine coverage under Medical Assistance, prescribed by a doctor and covered by the approved drug list
Foot care
Hospitalization, if medically necessary, including semi-private rooms (a private room is covered if needed for a medical condition), inpatient drug and doctor services
Laboratory tests and cardiograms, as ordered by your doctor
X-rays, when medically necessary and ordered by your doctor
Physical therapy, if medically necessary
Occupational and speech therapy, if medically necessary
On-going chiropractic services, if medically necessary

http://www.gatewayhealthplan.com/book/medicaid/pa/member3.aspx

See, this is part of the problem, rob. You hear medicaid and you believe its all free. While it may not cost a lot.. cutting out whatever financial help there is has more far reaching effects that you realize.

quote:

Now if the argument is a matter of how the existing money is spent, that's another ball of wax, but in order to maintain a balanced budget, some programs have to yield so others can be funded. Your state elected a republican majority for a reason, and from what I read it was to balance the budget, and to bring new jobs to Pa.

Looks to me Corbett is doing what he was elected to do.

quote:

And out of that $205 per month, my clients paid a fixed amount of $83.50 for their housing, that included rent, utilities, phone, cable TV (and the agency provided TVs in all bedrooms when available) cleaning and laundry supplies and paper supplies (and if you don't know what I mean by that euphemism, I feel sorry for you). $5.00 of that $83.50 was held back each month in a fund which the clients got back when they moved out if they owed no money and cleaned their room upon leaving. They paid no security deposit upon moving in.

Most of my clients also, in the past year, received around $167.00 per month in food stamps. I guess this the average for somebody on general assistance. I've heard that this food stamp benefit will increased to around $200 to "make up" for the lack cash assistance. I'm sure those people will be appreciative to have the extra food stamps when they can't buy a hot meal and no longer have a kitchen in which cook.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

quote:

Now if the argument is a matter of how the existing money is spent, that's another ball of wax, but in order to maintain a balanced budget, some programs have to yield so others can be funded. Your state elected a republican majority for a reason, and from what I read it was to balance the budget, and to bring new jobs to Pa.

Looks to me Corbett is doing what he was elected to do.

Its not what he is doing.. its how he is doing it.

quote:

ORIGINAL: subrob1967

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

quote:

Now if the argument is a matter of how the existing money is spent, that's another ball of wax, but in order to maintain a balanced budget, some programs have to yield so others can be funded. Your state elected a republican majority for a reason, and from what I read it was to balance the budget, and to bring new jobs to Pa.

Looks to me Corbett is doing what he was elected to do.

Its not what he is doing.. its how he is doing it.

How else should he do it?
Leave the welfare spending alone and cut infrastructure spending?
Cut police and fire budgets?
How else can he entice businesses to bring new jobs into Pa, his charming personality?

Pa is competing with WV, Oh, De, Ma or NJ for jobs... I'm sure Christie or Kasich would love to have the new refinery.

quote:

What other benefits are they receiving from the government? How do you, or I know this is the only benefit they receive?

quote:

ORIGINAL: erieangel

quote:

ORIGINAL: subrob1967

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

quote:

Now if the argument is a matter of how the existing money is spent, that's another ball of wax, but in order to maintain a balanced budget, some programs have to yield so others can be funded. Your state elected a republican majority for a reason, and from what I read it was to balance the budget, and to bring new jobs to Pa.

Looks to me Corbett is doing what he was elected to do.

Its not what he is doing.. its how he is doing it.

How else should he do it?
Leave the welfare spending alone and cut infrastructure spending?
Cut police and fire budgets?
How else can he entice businesses to bring new jobs into Pa, his charming personality?

Pa is competing with WV, Oh, De, Ma or NJ for jobs... I'm sure Christie or Kasich would love to have the new refinery.

You did read where I quoted that they put between 350m - 400m in reserves, right?

Why didn't they put less aside for a "rainy day" and keep the general assistance? A large majority of the money spent on GA is paid back anyway when people are approved for social security which usually takes between 3-18 months but can sometimes take up to 3 years.

No, cutting GA was the easy thing to do. Those 70,000 people have few resources, no political power and few people who will speak up for them.

Selling (and buying) food stamps is highly illegal. But you know what, I will buy food stamps from anybody who wants to sell them as long as they don't have children to feed. Just because somebody is single and disabled doesn't mean they don't deserve basic respect and the basic necessities of life. This budget says those people are worthless to society.

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Um because the economy ain't getting better, and it may get worse... You simply can't spend your way out of the economic mess.

Um the people collecting ga don't pay back the funds they're given if they're approved for SSDI... Who told you that? Once the state gives the money away, it's gone... There is no Federal SS Fairy there to replenish the coffers.

Go ahead and break the law... At least you'll get three hots, a cot, and medical care in prison.