HB2 will cut Medicaid

My name is Antoinette Newman and I live in the Good Samaritan Society Mountain View Manor nursing home in Eureka. Right now our State House of Representatives is considering House Bill 2, Section B.

This bill would really harm my care and the salaries of C.N.A.s and Nurses. The bill would reduce the amount of money (Medicaid) the state gives to nursing homes and home health care providers. According to our administrator it could potentially reduce our reimbursements as much as $80,000 to $100,000 a year making quality of care more difficult limiting raises for staff. Eureka already has lower salaries than Whitefish or Kalispell for the same job and with a reduction in pay I’m afraid that staff will have to look for other jobs. Most are already working another job to supplement their income.

I know that Medicaid is a large expense but why punish the people who have no other means of support? I worked all my adult life until my Multiple Sclerosis got so bad that after 19 years with the San Diego County and San Diego Superior Court I had to take a disability retirement. With the retirement pension and Social Security I receive $41,000 a year retirement. $40,400 goes for my care and I get to keep $50 a month for a total of $600 a year for my personal needs as mandated by Medicaid.

I don’t understand why I have become a second class citizen because I got sick and old. I don’t drink or smoke and no one in my family has had MS. If I had committed a crime and went to jail I would have all the medical care that I needed including all dental care for free. But for us not in jail we are limited to what Medicaid will cover for us. My body is broken but my mind and spirit are alive and well.

Please urge your House of Representatives legislator to vote against HB2.

Antoinette Newman

Eureka