Reforming Medicaid and Vulnerable People

Medicaid, the federal-state financed program that assists people to gain access to health services when they cannot afford them, has been inthe news of late. Unfortunately the news is disquieting for people who count on this program for health care and rehabilitation services. Change is not always the friend of vulnerable people, and in this instance, it can be downright disruptive when it comes to accessing services. Because they are not well organized, people with Medicaid coverage do not have political clout, even though more people are covered by Medicaid than Medicare (e.g., the public insurance program for almost all people over the age of 65 and some people with disabilities). New Bush administration proposals and ongoing practices could be particularly harsh for people with disabilities.