Jay Nixon Holds Roundtable Health Care Discussion in Springfield

Springfield, Mo.  (Dec. 7, 2007) -- Continuing his statewide health care listening tour, Attorney General Jay Nixon visited Springfield today to hear about Missouri's health care crisis from those affected most: the regular Missourians who had their coverage or benefits slashed in 2005 by Gov. Matt Blunt. 

"Our state's health care system is broken and regular folks from Springfield and across the state are suffering very real consequences," Attorney General Nixon said.  "As I travel the state, I'm hearing directly from parents, workers and people with disabilities who are paying the price for the Governor's disastrous cuts. They can't access the health care they need and can't afford the limited health care they have. Their stories show how far backwards Matt Blunt has taken Missouri on health care."  

Today's stop took place at the home of Patty Gross, a Springfield resident cut by Matt Blunt in 2005 from the Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities, or MAWD, program.  Prior to the cuts, Ms. Gross was employed at as an AmeriCorps*VISTA Volunteer with the Missouri Community Advocacy Network.  

Several other regular Missourians from the Springfield area also participated in the discussion, including Richard Green, of Ozark, and Marti Mowery, ofSpringfield.  Mr. Green, a single father of three, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1997.  Citing the increasing costs of his medical care and his disability, Mr. Green's employer fired him in July 2006, after he had been with the company for 20 years.  As a result, Mr. Green was forced to file for disability.  

Because of Matt Blunt's 2005 health care cuts, Mr. Green cannot access physical therapy and other services and technologies his doctors recommend to manage the multiple sclerosis.  To maintain Medicaid eligibility, he must pay a monthly spenddown of $681, which is nearly half of the assistance his family receives each month from Social Security.

"Because of the governor's cuts, I have to pick and choose which doctors to visit and which prescriptions to fill each month to be able to care for my family and meet the spenddown," Mr. Green said. "Matt Blunt should have put himself in the shoes of people like me before he made this devastating decision.  Jay needs to be our next governor because he'll put people first and realize that everyone matters."

The mother of three autistic children, Ms. Mowery has seen numerous setbacks since 2005.  The state has imposed restrictions on the medications doctors can prescribe to treat her children's multiple conditions, and access to counselors and social workers, who help the children learn to manage their autism, has been slashed.

"Getting the health care my children need has been impossible since Matt Blunt's 2005 cuts," Mowery said.  "As a mother, I'm supporting Jay so that families like mine will be able to access the medical care we need.  We've got to undo Matt Blunt's devastating cuts and get Missouri moving in the right direction." 

Today's roundtable discussion was the latest stop on Attorney General Nixon's statewide health care listening tour.  Nixon has held previous roundtables in Columbiaand Rolla.  Additional stops across the state will take place over the coming weeks and months.