Will Medicaid Cuts Be Restored?

A federal judge orders the restoration of Medicaid benefits for hundreds of thousands of Missourians, but a legal tug of war could leave coverage hanging in the balance.

Watch my KY3 News @ 10 report on the issue HERE.

The ruling says state lawmakers acted arbitrarily in making the cuts two years ago, and instructs the state to reinstate all durable medical equipment.

Basically the judge said the state didn't use a reasonable standard to decide what to keep, and what to cut. For instance, wheelchairs were kept, but batteries were not. So the federal judge ordered all medical equipment to be restored for 30 days. But it hasn't happened yet.

Governor Blunt says his administration is reviewing the ruling.

"We're still trying to determine precisely what the order means," Blunt said in an interview in Monett Thursday. "Obviously I have some concerns when judges begin to micromanage programs that the elected representatives of the people and the Governor made decisions about."

When I asked the Governor if the ruling means he will have to restore equipment for 30 days before unveiling a new plan, he said he wasn't sure yet.

"I still think there's some question about exactly what it means and the legal ramifications," he said.

A spokesperson with the Department of Social Services told me today their legal team is reviewing the ruling and should have a decision sometime next week.