Barbour to begin Medicaid cutting

The Sun Herald, 7/11/8

Gov. Haley Barbour said he will file papers today to start a nearly month-long process of cutting millions of dollars from the Medicaid program.

He said the cuts will take effect Aug. 6 unless lawmakers patch a $90 million hole in the program’s budget before then. The House and Senate return to the Capitol on Aug. 4 to restart an on-again, off-again special session in which Medicaid has been the biggest fight.

Barbour discussed his plan to start Medicaid cuts shortly after a judge ruled Thursday against the governor in a lawsuit hospitals filed two years ago to challenge part of a Medicaid budget plan Barbour had proposed.