Blue Sage Views: Nevada blogger posts PLAN news release on potential hits from Medicaid rule changes.

Children, seniors and people with disabilities will be those hardest hit if proposed federal regulations affecting Medicaid go into effect, the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada warned the state’s congressional delegation Monday.

The regulations could cost Nevada, a state already roiled by unmet medical needs and high levels of inadequate or nonexistent health care coverage, $262 million in Medicaid funded services over the next five years. In fiscal year 2009 alone, the loss of federal and state matching funds because of a downturn in government revenue could cost close to $100 million even as caseloads are increasing.

“Our state is already in distress,” said PLAN lobbyist Jan Gilbert on Monday. She noted that demands for critically needed human needs were increasing even as state services are being slashed to help cover a budget shortfall estimated at $540 million – and growing.

“Now is not the time to consider rules that will hit the weakest among us disproportionately.”

Labor unions; advocates for seniors, families and children; business groups and churches are among the 28 groups that signed on to the letter that will go to Nevada’s two federal Senators and three Members of Congress. The letter urges the members of the delegation to extend a moratorium blocking implementation of the rules proposed by the Bush administration.

“Congress has acted before and should act once again to protect Nevada’s best interests,” Gilbert said.

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