A coalition of people who depend on Medicaid for their health care and jobs called on the Texas Legislature to fully fund the program when they meet next year.
People with disabilities, parents with ill children, elderly Texans and health care providers met Tuesday to bring attention to who depends on Medicaid and how important the program is for them.
Lawmakers cut Medicaid programs last year and underfunded the program by $4.8 billion. When the Legislature meets next year, they have until March to make up the budget deficit. Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that provides health care to the poor, disabled and the neediest elderly Americans.
The disabled in particular are concerned about cuts to programs that allow them to live at home, instead of in institutions.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press