Needy still suffering from persistent delays in state's benefits system (CO)

[bobbolink]

Needy still suffering from persistent delays in state's benefits system
By Michael Booth
The Denver Post
Posted: 01/23/2011 01:00:00 AM MSTUpdated: 01/23/2011 09:25:29 AM MST

Massive delays continue to plague the state benefits system for Medicaid, food stamps and other assistance, obstructing hundreds of thousands of residents and prompting a new contempt of court call by legal advocates for the poor.

In some categories, the roadblocks have worsened despite years of attempted fixes. Tens of thousands of clients a month are suffering illegal delays on 71 percent of Child Health Plan Plus re-enrollments and 44 percent of initial adult Medicaid applications, the contempt filings claim.

With state and county caseloads bulging from the recession, the delays affected more than 248,000 people seeking to start or extend medical benefits in an 18-month period from 2009 to mid-2010. While applicants may eventually receive back benefits, they miss vital food aid during the gaps and watch doctors, clinics and pharmacies refuse them care for lack of insurance.

"They've regressed," said Ed Kahn of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, a party to the lawsuit against the state dating to 2004. In rulings and negotiations since then, the state has been required to improve the system performance or face sanctions.

More at the link, including that Texas (!) seems to be handling it much better.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_17171568

[ananda]

1. In Texas the Reeps put roadblocks in on purpose.

It's been ugly.

[bobbolink]

4. I would suspect that is the case everywhere.

However, from what I read at the Denver Post, Texas is doing much better than Colorado!

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Yes, it absolutely happens everywhere. This is why it burns me when the Right (and some

in the "center") point to the system and say, "See, it's broken! Told you it wouldn't work!"

They broke it on purpose!

[bobbolink]

11. I have no doubt it was purposely broken, and for the very reasons you describe.

A big problem is that poverty isn't "sexy", and doesn't get a mass protest.

Where are the "progressives" demanding in large and loud numbers that this be rectified?

Do you hear about this on "progressive" radio?

Has KO or Rachel or Schultz (or Sirota) made this a visible and on-going topic?

WHY are we left to deal with this virtually alone?

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. I say we ask them, see what their answer is.

[bobbolink]

15. YES! Thank you for working on this, and I hope HOPE other DUers will follow your lead!

:hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. I hope so too. :^)

[w8liftinglady]

12. The texas Legislature has really put Medicaid on the chopping block.. sigh

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Doctors-dropping-Medicaid-as-potential-cuts-loom-114329254.html
Doctors dropping Medicaid as potential cuts loom

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7387270.html
Texas budget cuts $2.3 b from health programs

http://www.newschannel10.com/Global/story.asp?S=13887323
Proposed state budget cuts include a 10% reduction in Medicaid reimbursement rates for doctors, nursing homes, other health care providers

[bobbolink]

18. What are the groups in Texas who are fighting this?

I never would have known what was happening there... its not like this has been important to Keith, or Rachel, or Schultz or Sirota or Hartmann, or.......

:grr:

[w8liftinglady]

23. a few

Tex Protects

Texas Health Care Association

the Texas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging,

And many faith and community based organizations.

The only problem...they don't carry the big bucks

[bobbolink]

25. YEs, that is what is happening nationwide.... "progressiives" are leaving this to overburdened and

underfunded groups.

Our "progressive" media is culpable for NOT making this a big issue!

What about Amy Goodman? Would she respond to a few letters on this? (Because a "FEW" is all we can drum up from "progressives"!)

[awoke_in_2003]

36. "they don't carry the big bucks"...

yep- it is a sad thing. Money controls the message, and money buys the legislation.

[jwirr]

29. I am curious: do the emergency rooms turn the poor away? Because

when you have no coverage that is where you go and it costs more.

[awoke_in_2003]

37. All an ER has to do anymore...

is stabilize you. Once stabile, they can put a foot to your behind.

[bobbolink]

43. that's not all.... after that, they send you the horrendous bill.

Yup.

[awoke_in_2003]

56. yeah, it is funny...

(well not really) how much effort they will put into bill collecting, and the bare minimum on providing care.

[jwirr]

51. Talk about death panels.

[bobbolink]

52. Did you see any of those photos of homeless people DX'd with cancer, and dumped on the street in

hospital gown and barefoot?

One story I remember, in L.A. -- another homeless person found a mattress for the sick person, and blankets and cared for her until she died.

Yeah, wadda country! :nuke:

edited to add some links:

http://www.newsinferno.com/legal-news/man-dumped-on-skid-row-by-la-hospital-files-negligence-lawsuit/

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/los-angeles-police-hospital-dumped-homeless-patients-on-skid-row.html

http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Hospital-patients-are-dumped-at-Haven-780290.php

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/homeless-patients-dumped-back-on-skid-row/2006/10/25/1161749189176.html

[awoke_in_2003]

57. we have the best health care...

money can provide. Those without are SOL.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. K&R

[bobbolink]

6. Thanks! The suffering is deep and wide. :(

[Odin2005]

3. K&R

[bobbolink]

21. When "they" talk about "sacrifice", they mean US, and only US.

When will "progressives" ever take effective action?????

:nuke:

[awoke_in_2003]

38. and the MIC...

never has to accept any sacrifice. K&R

[maryf]

5. charts from your article

some need the visual, and some don't go to the links:



K&R

[bobbolink]

7. Thank you, maryf! Those graphs ARE important.... and sure tell the tale.

Thank you for posting them!

[maryf]

10. Thank you for your article!

:hi: some folks are more visual and need to read these things... here's a graphic OP that can be related: it talks about debt, tax rates, and unemployment, but I'm going to search for the relationship to social services et al:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=256019&mesg_id=256019

[bobbolink]

14. Thank you for searching for those connections! That surely isn't being done by the "progressive"

media, is it?

[maryf]

16. Doesn't seem to be...

I'm still searching, haven't come up with the right search combo yet...

[awoke_in_2003]

39. nope- the media is too busy firing people...

who actually tell the truth.

[Mnemosyne]

9. One day feels an eternity. Too much suffering and the numbers will only grow. KnR.

[bobbolink]

47. Yes, indeed... the days can drag by when you are homeless. When will it stop?

[Mnemosyne]

59. I wish it could be yesterday that it stopped, bobbolink. It sometimes feels that no matter how hard

we try, it seems it can never be enough, the suffering is so vast.

But if for some reason we are only able to help just one person, I truly believe the caring can and does spread. Not always I know, because there will always be those with little sense of what paying it forward means.

No thoughtful effort with a true heart is ever meaningless.

Bless you, bobbolink, for all of your wisdom, trials, efforts and caring; for all that you do. :hug:

Namaste

[bobbolink]

68. I deeply know that sense of overwhelm. Ignoring poor folk is so deeply ingrained.

There is so much suffering and needless death, and I know that my time to try to sound the alarm is limited, so I feel both pushed and hopeless. Yet, so many get their kicks out of calling me names... its the tried ad true method of avoiding what makes one uncomfortable.... vilifying the messenger.

I would GLADLY give up the job of messenger.... I long for the day when there are MANY here at DU and elsewhere, sounding the alarm!

[Mnemosyne]

71. I've done whatever I can for many years, just very tired these days.

I'm always pissing people off trying to raise their apathy. I've been poor my entire life because of severe mental illness and have been crucified by my "family" for both. I've never had, nor wanted, a $300,000 house and in my family you are a complete loser if you don't care about such shallow bullcrap.

I am learning more all the time that most people do not want their comfort zone intruded upon and will try to destroy you when you interfere with their reality.

So very frustrating and disheartening most days, isn't it. But we continue because we have to, once you have woken up there is no going back, is there?

Stay safe and warm, bobbolink. :hug:

[bobbolink]

74. You are right about the reaction to anyone who "intrudes" on someone's comfort zone.

And that is true of "both sides of the aisle". Dems don't want to be confronted with ideas they aren't comfortable with, any more than the RW is.

Whistleblowers of any form are still attacked.

I'm sorry you have felt like a misfit. It seems like integrity and concernn for all equate to the misfit category anymore. I used to think that it was very important to a democracy for there to be a strong middleclass. As I have seen what affluence has done and the selfishness it has created, I no longer believe that. I think that a comfortable middleclass is in direct conflict to the growth of integrity and compassion and the other traditional Dem values that have evaporated.

What is of vital importance now is for poor folk to come together and find ways of supporting each other. I have no idea how to accomplish that.

[Mnemosyne]

75. A "comfortable middle class" led to the exact crisis this country is in now. A direct result

of it, I firmly believe.

My area is so sad. Anyone poor seems to just drink or drug and not give a damn. I have been told for years to just STFU, no one wants to hear my bullshit. I do not have a clue what will light a fire under the poor in this area. Starvation maybe? :cry:

We cannot do it alone, I do know that. But what to do is a tough question. I've put leaflets and stickers around for years - seems to get no results. I used to write many LTTE, but when I wrote one in 2005 about the violations of the Nuremberg Principles and Geneva Conventions, they refused to print it (after offering me a job to write what I wanted!) or any other letter I have sent them since about anything. Very small town run by R's and wealthy D's. I didn't get the job, the offer was withdrawn.

I will just try to survive until I cannot. Don't know what else to do these days.

[Tsiyu]

19. The problem is

that the wealthy sociopaths in charge look at that sum intended for the poor, the hungry, the sick and the weak, and those $$$$$$$figures on paper "erase" the hunger, the poverty and the sick in the sociopath's mind.

The wealthy sociopath in charge believes in his heart of hearts that that $$$$$$money would look so much better in one of his or her fellow wealthy sociopath's bank accounts. The wealthy DESERVE welfare from the state; the poorer citizens of the state DO NOT.

It's an age old story.

When the wealthy sociopaths in charge start bankrupting the states and destroying state pensions, only then will you see any outrage. Because only then will many of the middle class begin to understand the meaning of poverty.


K & R

[bobbolink]

22. This is happening because of the SILENCE from "progressives"

Sanders and Grayson and all the other "heroes" ignore this. All they talk about is "the middleclass".

NONE of the "progressive" media ever talks about this, and certainly doesn't educate its listeners about the realities of poverty.

It is waaay past time to excuse all of this by blaming the rich... it is time to look in the mirror and demand better of a "movement" that is only for the middle class intelligentsia. All that kind of blame does is serve to continue the suffering.

[Bluebear]

33. Truly.

The party traditionally branded as "bleeding heart" no longer says anything about the least of us.

[bobbolink]

34. It was actually quite easy to get them to run away from their traditional values, wasn't it?

Call them a few names, and they wimp out.

But, even those who say they are the conscience of the party.... the "progressive" media, can't be bothered.

Pitchforks time!

:hi:

[awoke_in_2003]

40. "It's an age old story"...

as old as the country. Calvinism is deeply rooted in this country.

[bobbolink]

42. Calvinism is certainly a strong influence in our thought processes, and

"progressives" aren't inclined to counter the effects, so poor folk are ground down.

[awoke_in_2003]

58. You know, Bobbo...

I am an atheist. But like Ghandi, I really wish that christians would be more Christ-like (and I am not aiming that at all christians, just the vast majority of right wingers who claim to be). In the Bible, when Christ was healing lepers and feeding the multitudes, he never seemed to ask for cash up front.

[bobbolink]

69. You are sooo right... they have the mandate to change the world....

In fact, Matthew 25 says that is not only suggested...not only required... but how they will be JUDGED.

Yet, like Obama, most clergy are afraid of confronting their congregations with this fact.

[awoke_in_2003]

70. "judge not, lest you be judged"...

and "do onto others as you would have them do onto you" are two great points we could all live by.

[Solly Mack]

20. K&R

[postatomic]

24. Colorado is a horrible State

The next time some Republican tells you that the top 1% carry the tax burden print out this document and show them the page with the tax rates for the top 1% compared to ANY income group in the lower to middle class range.

http://www.cclponline.org/uploads/files/COLORADOTAXPRIMERBudgetWorks2011.pdf

The voter approved tax revision in this state is hurting the misinformed and stupid people that voted for it. The republican mantra is "Taxes Kill Jobs". The democratic mantra should be that the current Tax Policies "Kill People".

This state is soooooo fucked up. They'll agree to an added tax for a new Football Stadium but if it involves helping people - well, that would "Kill Jobs". :eyes:

[bobbolink]

26. So, the question then is... Why aren't Sirota and Solis-Marich making an issue of this, since they

are local "progressive" pundits?

[postatomic]

31. They would have to revise Colorado Tax Law

Every attempt has failed. Outside (and inside) money is in no short supply to defeat any legislation. And the RW pundits love using Colorado as a "poster child" for tax control.

If the progressives/democrats would approach this from a different perspective they 'might' be able to change the Tax Laws. And there is, of course, the lack of 'spine' with most Democrats to even discuss it. Meanwhile the middle class is being pushing into the lower class and the lower class is being pushed into poverty and the growing number of homeless.

I write/call till I'm blue in the face. If more people would just read the link I provided they can see how horrible Colorado ranks on almost every category.

But hey. Go Broncos!!!!! :eyes:

[bobbolink]

49. my reply to you seems to have vanished. I don't understand from your reply WHY

Sirota and Mario can't talk about the problems? Nobody is expecting *them* to change the tax laws, but if they don't talk about it, then where will the education come from?

Nobody expected KO to change any laws, but he sure did a lot to educate people about the problems.

I don't understand your reply.

[postatomic]

55. I think my reply was pretty clear

And I looked. It's still there. Hasn't vanished. If you want to know why Sirota and Mario don't talk about this why don't you ask them? I can tell you that nothing they say will make any difference.

There is a distinct reality we're dealing with here. Did you read the link I provided? A voter approved ballot is required to fix the problem. Oh, and lots and lots of money. Maybe Sirota and Mario can finance it?

I don't understand your reply but I have an excuse. I'm insane.
:crazy:

Peace and stop wasting my time with irrelevant nonsense. I have better things to do than worry why a couple of obscure talking heads don't read my thoughts and say what I want them to say.
:hippie:

[bobbolink]

65. You misunderstood me... *MY* reply to YOU vanished.... as did my goodwill, I guess.

You don't need to worry... I won't "bother" you again. Just also don't ask me to support more of YOUR interests.

Bye.

[ipaint]

27. Don't forget 10's of millions of americans are going to be shoved onto medicaid in 2014

when the comfortable class's sorry excuse for health ins. reform opens for business. If it's not happening in your state now it will be shortly.

The perfect storm is heading directly for what's left of the middle class, this is YOUR very near future.

[bobbolink]

28. *MY* "future" is NOT middleclass! That is exactly WHY all these cuts and barriers are

happening... because all the focus is on the muddleclass, and poverty is the elephant in the room.

[ipaint]

30. Neither is it mine but I don't think the perpetually pandered to middle class, you know the folks

who yelled "let them eat medicaid" the loudest during the health care sell out thought it would be their future.

The middle class, so called "progressives" and conservatives, have spent 30 years torturing and supporting the torture and neglect of the poor in this country. They just supported the tax increase on the working poor.

They. Don't. Care.

I'm over trying to enlighten or warn their sorry asses.

[undergroundpanther]

63. That elephant is

getting bigger everyday.. too. In a strange way I hope the elephant afflicts the comfortable when they realize they are becoming poorer and seriously outnumbered by the pissed off and hungry that suffer for the greed of the few..Take care bobbo! Luvs ya!

:hugs:

[bobbolink]

67. I have those thoughtts, too, but it won't work that way. You see, for decades poor people have been

vilified... held personally responsible for their situation. That shows no sign of abating.

The fallen muddleclass, however, are given not only a PASS (although the case could be made that they DID cause at least some of their own problems!), and the meme, including from such luminaries as Bernie Sanders and Alan Grayson, is that the poor muddleclass needs all the attention now, because they are in such pain. Neither one of those people speak of real poverty!

So, you see... it is still a class war, and impoverished folk will always take the blame. It is still a big gap between muddleclass who are newly poor, and impoverished people who have been weathering this shit for a long time. Nothing is going to change until we are able to get "progressives" to change their fucking language and direction!

Now, what do I mean by bringing it on themselves? So many muddleclass people, not all of course, spent waaaay beyond their means, and were in debt up to their eyebrows. One small thing comes up, and they are in deep sununu. I will repeat that that isn't the case with everyone and there are people right here on DU who are suffering now from no fault of their own. But I see this debt and overspending all around me, and don't hear anything about these people taking responsibility for their own lack of wisdom in handling money. ONe who just left where I am has been crying for a year now because she can't find work, and will have to move because she can't afford her housing costs. Yet, she is still driving her huge honking MERCEDES, while poor people can't afford an old clunker to get back and forth to work! She doesn't ever talk about her own part in her situation. I have a hard time having unfettered sympathy.

[RKP5637]

32. Recommend!!! n/t

[bobbolink]

50. Thanks!

[Donnachaidh]

35. kick and Rec! n/t

[bobbolink]

53. Thanks!

[Liberal_in_LA]

41. k&r

[Lifelong Protester]

44. K & R for the night shift

and the gap becomes a chasm....

[maryf]

45. kick to help your kick for the night, nt

[bobbolink]

46. that chasm is a deadly fall. Too bad it doesn't seem to matter.....

Thanks for the kick!

[leftstreet]

48. K&R

[niyad]

54. k and r

[defendandprotect]

60. K/R --

[Starry Messenger]

61. k&r

[undergroundpanther]

62. Kill the poor

Convinced the liberals it's OK..
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/deadkennedys/killthepoor.html

Fuck, this shit has been going on in CO for years.I was out there in 2003 for a MH conference thing..and back than I talked to homeless people out there and they told me about how fucked thier SSI and disability system was and they didn't get their checks repeatedly,and this was in 2003.I can't imagine how WORSE it has gotten... I was told the homeless have tent cities there..But if you ever walk the streets in Denver,there is not a cigarette butt or scrap of paper to be found on the streets It was so clean it was disconcerting like a model home that's supposed to look lived in but you can tell nobody lives there it's all a show..I wonder how much the state wastes in "keeping up appearances" in Denver?

States and too many people are still pretending as if they had no homeless people in their state..and that the greed based profit system ruining lives to feed the greedy rich isn't a human rights disaster perpetuated by greed and hate & this asinine war against 'weakness'..Saw a post here about a waste of money in California they are going to turn benches around in a shopping district in a public area so shoppers won't have to look at the results of this culture of greed face to face... as in..( eEEek A homeless person!! Oh No. asking me for money.. ooh I can't say no!(shame) but I'm greedy,..umm tell myself they are gonna by drugs with that 50 cents, in my pocket next to the $ 80 bucks I'm blowing on stuff I don't need today.. ( Phew..The empathy deficiency of another shopper's bigotry gets denied~.) don't look walk away..)*score* 1 for ol'greed,profit and class-ism and a 0 for empathy and human rights.)Again..sigh.

This shit is Just like lab vivisectionists that deliberately cut the vocal chords of the lab dogs they torture for "science".They can't let the torturer hear the dog cry and whimper from pain they might quit from SHAME and empathy for the poor dog..Oh no..The piggies Can't let empathy for another human being's unnessesary suffering impede profits,so ,mooove along little shoppers look away..Oooh no Don't dare share anything or give help to those other people.. homeless people that the well off get offended by existing and claim are lazy,crazy,or choosing to sleep on a metal bench designed to be as uncomfortable as possible..when the well off look away blithely spending 5 bucks on a cup of coffee without even thinking about it..

42 million Americans would not be able to eat if the U.S. government did not give them handouts.

The safety net is getting awfully crowded.

If you really want to see some soul-crushing desperation, go check out the flood tunnels under the city of Las Vegas. But do not do this alone - it is very dangerous down there. Today, there are hordes of "tunnel people" who call those dark tunnels home. Nobody knows for sure how many people are down there (some people say that it is well into the thousands), but everyone agrees that the number is rapidly growing.

But in many major U.S. cities there are no flood tunnels to go to. Instead, in many areas of the United States huge tent cities have sprouted. The following is a video news report from the BBC about the tent cities that are popping up all over America....
"The idea of someone living in a tent (or other encampment) in this country says little about the decisions made by those who dwell within and so much more about our nation's inability to adequately respond to those in need."

42 million Americans would not be able to eat if the U.S. government did not give them handouts.

The safety net is getting awfully crowded.

If you really want to see some soul-crushing desperation, go check out the flood tunnels under the city of Las Vegas. But do not do this alone - it is very dangerous down there. Today, there are hordes of "tunnel people" who call those dark tunnels home. Nobody knows for sure how many people are down there (some people say that it is well into the thousands), but everyone agrees that the number is rapidly growing.

But in many major U.S. cities there are no flood tunnels to go to. Instead, in many areas of the United States huge tent cities have sprouted. The following is a video news report from the BBC about the tent cities that are popping up all over America....

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/tent-cities-homelessness-and-soul-crushing-despair-the-legacy-of-decades-of-government-debt-and-mismanagement-of-the-economy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/05/tent-cities-national-coal_n_487908.html
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14256366
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-146145353.html
http://www.homelessforums.org/showthread.php?p=37643

What will it take for people to admit the RICH ,and the profiteering pigs have STOLEN their LIVES and livelihoods even the means to EXIST from under them?

When is enough~ ENOUGH??!

[blindpig]

64. k&r

[Uncle Joe]

66. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, bobbolink.

[Forkboy]

72. Kick

:kick:

[G_j]

73. too late to rec..

but :bounce: