Judge: Restore Medicaid Cuts

From the Associated Press:

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A federal judge has ordered the state to restore Medicaid coverage for medical equipment for a month and submit a new plan for what will be covered.

The ruling will restore durable medical equipment for 370,000 Missourians, according to a news release from the Saint Louis University School of Law.

Gov. Matt Blunt and House Speaker Rod Jetton said Monday that a federal judge was attempting to legislate from the bench in ruling that the state could not choose what medical equipment is covered under Medicaid.

Blunt said that it is a prime example of a judge attempting to make decisions for lawmakers and defended the decisions made in 2005 to help reduce state spending.

"I don't think judges should order a tax increase, and I don't think judges should micromanage state programs," Blunt said.