Sen. Shields on MAWD: "We'll Get It Done"

The Majority Floor Leader of the State Senate pledged to pass a new program for working Medicaid recipients with disabilities (MAWD) by the end of the 2007 session.

"We'll get it done this session," Sen. Charlie Shields told the KY3 Political Notebook at an event in Springfield. "We're well on pace to do that."

MAWD, also more commonly known as Ticket-to-Work, is a program that allows Medicaid enrollees to work and still earn a state check for their disability. The program was slashed two years ago along with the entire Medicaid system, but lawmakers on both sides of the aisle admitted the program was valuable.

Republicans decided to reform the program to eliminate loopholes that allowed recipients to "work" by doing small chores like, walking a dog once a month. Lawmakers decried such instances as "waste and abuse," but still maintained that the basic structure of the system was worthwhile.

Shields said the system lawmakers are looking at this year has "the right checks and balances."

"The old MAWD system, had made up work in any cases," Sen. Shields said.

Much like last year, the House passed a reformed MAWD program bill early. But halfway through the session, the Senate has yet to act.

"I can tell you from being in the Senate, there will probably be changes to that," Sen. Shields said. "That's just our nature."

"What we want to do is take people who are disabled and want to re-enter the workforce, allow them to do that, without losing healthcare," he added.

When I asked Shields what changes he expected to make to the House bill, he said it was a little bit soon to know specifics.

"We're going to look at the eligibility levels they picked, we're also going to look at some issues surrounding children in the children's health program. We may add back some kids in that program to help some parents along with that. Those will be changes we'll look at," Sen. Shields said.

The House MAWD measure has not reached the Senate floor yet, but Shields said he expects it will happen "fairly quickly" after the spring break recess.