The man who helped Governor Matt Blunt put together his proposed budget catches some heat for the proposed cuts in the Medicaid program. But Michael Keathley tells skeptics the State cannot afford to fully fund Medicaid and fully fund schools at the same time without a tax increase – and Blunt won’t support a tax increase. Critics of the Blunt plan say they don’t think the Governor has thought through his cuts. They say the Medicaid costs might be reduced, but other programs will see their costs increase as Medicaid recipients look for help through them.
Health Department Targets Diabetics During American Heart Month
January 31, 2005 By
February is American Heart Month, and the State Health Department is putting its efforts, this year, into reaching out to Missourians who are considered especially vulnerable. The Department’s Linda Powell says the most vulnerable include diabetics because there is a strong link between diabetes and heart disease. Powell says people with diabetes can decrease their risk for heart disease and stroke by lowering their blood sugar, their blood pressure, and their cholesterol. They can also stay away from tobacco and eat healthy. Of course, that advice goes for all Missourians – diabetic or not.
Tort Reform Legislation Introduced In House
January 31, 2005 By
A major issue the past few legislative sessions has resurfaced in the House, with the sponsor much more hopeful of it becoming law this year. Representative Richard Byrd of Kirkwood has introduced litigation reform, which he promotes as a way to bring down the insurance rates driving doctors out of Missouri. Byrd says his bill will keep lawsuits from being swept into St. Louis, which has given much more generous jury awards in civil cases and will cap non-economic damages at $250,000. Byrd claims the State has 263 fewer doctors this year than last, because of its lawsuit friendly environment. He says hundreds of other doctors have scaled back their practices to avoid being sued. Such measures won approval in the Republican-controlled Legislature in the past, but were vetoed by Governor Bob Holden, a Democrat. Governor Matt Blunt, a Republican, says he favors litigation reform.
SMS Moves Toward Name Change In Advance Of Legislative Moves
January 31, 2005 By
Southwest Missouri State University is moving to lock up the name “Missouri State University” while it’s waiting for the Legislature to make the name official. SMS has filed trademark papers to register “Missouri State” but a school spokesman says there are no plans to use it until the Legislature makes the change. The University of Missouri in Columbia says that’s the historic name of MU, although the school used it informally for only a few years in the 20th century. Southwest has been trying to get the Legislature to change the name since 1988. It is Missouri’s second-largest university.
Workers’ Comp Suit Filed In Kirksville Plane Crash
January 31, 2005 By
A workers’ compensation lawsuit has been filed because of the fatal plane crash near the Kirksville airport last year. Eleven passengers were killed. Two survived. Everset National Insurance Company, the workers’ comp insurance carrier for A.T. Still University of Kirksville, accuses Corporate Airlines of negligence and says it has to reimburse Everest for the workers’ comp and other payments it has made to two survivors and two passengers who died. The four were employees of the university. Two other lawsuits have been filed so far. The crash was the only fatal commercial airline crash in the country last year.
