Thursday, Jan 27 2011 6:23PM
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer wants to cut 280,000 people from the state's Medicaid program in an effort to balance the state's budget.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer recently signed a bill to temporarily remove 280,000 people from the state's Medicaid program in an attempt to relieve the budget of the cash-strapped state.
The proposal, which must be approved by the federal government, would save the state $541.5 million. However, healthcare providers say the legislation would be detrimental for many residents of rural communities who depend on the program.
Kathleen Gomez, the director of legislative affairs at the Southeast Arizona Medical Center, told Arizona Public Radio the hospital may be forced to shut down if the cut goes through, leaving nearby residents without a critical access hospital in the area.
Medicaid is an important part of the health care system for many low-income residents of rural Conchise County, Jennifer Ginger Ryan, the CEO of Chiricahua Community Medical Centers, told the station. Ryan, whose rural community assistance program includes two mobile units, said the cut would affect many of her patients.
It's unclear as to whether the proposal has any chance of approval, as Bloomberg reports the health care reform law requires states to maintain Medicaid access for the same number of people as they did before the law passed.