Medicaid cuts in Oklahoma will affect vital services for people with disabilities

From KOTV in Oklahoma:

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The first round of Medicaid cuts will affect thousands of Oklahomans on SoonerCare, from their visits to the dentist to higher co-payments and prescription costs. But with the state's budget crisis, more cuts could be coming and there are fears of what could be on the chopping block next.

Christmas is less than two weeks away. The tree is trimmed and stockings are hanging over the fireplace, but another thought is hanging over the Hill family this holiday.

"We got the equipment now and I don't know if we'd lose it, but we wouldn't be able to maintain it. I mean every six weeks, every time they want to check it out it was $500. Where do you come up with an extra $500," said Mike Hill, whose daughter could be hurt by the cuts.

Kimberly Hill (pictured), 25, has Spinal Muscular Dystrophy. Her wheelchair and ventilator keep her going and Medicaid keeps them going, but cuts to the program could change all that.

"This equipment is vital to her living a normal life and without it they want to send her to a nursing home. Now we're not going to let that happen, that just ends up being the way with life, and that's debt and that's the way we'll go," Mike Hill said.

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority Board approved a $17 million cut in the state's Medicaid program SoonerCare just days ago. Now this family fears funding for durable medical equipment for adults will be on the chopping block.

"If the revenue continues to come in short, we're going to have to increase the amount of cuts in the future. And we're going to have to make some even more difficult decisions, that's not just cutting the muscle but also losing the limbs of the program," said Deputy Chief Officer Nico Gomez of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.

The equipment from Medicaid is a necessity that's helping Kimberly graduate from OSU with a political science degree and volunteer for political campaigns. She said she's scared and doesn't want to be in a nursing home, but her family said they could be facing cuts in the next 3 months.

"We're willing to fight do whatever necessary, do the research, help fight for all her friends who are all in the same situation and just fight till the end," Kimberley's father said.

The approved changes made to the services will go into effect January 1.