By Staff
YOU'RE SAFE Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, right, tells Queen City Nursing Center resident Joyce Bounds, left, and her sister, Nell Tucker, that they won't be thrown out of the nursing home because of Medicaid shortfalls. Tuck met with residents and workers at the nursing home on Tuesday. Photo by Fredie Carmichael / The Meridian Star
By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
April 24, 2002
Some Queen City Nursing Center residents had tears in their eyes Tuesday as Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck assured them that Medicaid shortfalls will not force them from their homes.
Tuck said comments made by Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and others about nursing home patients being put out on the streets are misleading.
About 100 residents and employees of the nursing home gathered to hear Tuck's remarks.
In recent budget talks, Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has complained that Medicaid's budget is about $75 million less than the $425 million he requested. But Tuck said Tuesday Medicaid will receive $100 million more than a year ago.
Tuck said two recent meetings with Musgrove, House Speaker Tim Ford, Attorney General Mike Moore and other lawmakers about Medicaid have been positive.
She said the group has "agreed in principle. And we're working on the details now so we can bring this thing to a resolution."
Residents and workers at Queen City said they have been on edge since the controversy started months ago over Medicaid's budget. One worker at the nursing home said she was encouraged by Tuck's visit, but still has concerns.
JoAnn Hawkins, director of nursing, said she's concerned about prescription medicine. Hawkins referred to a letter from the Division of Medicaid sent to the family of a nursing home resident.
The letter said of June 1, patients will be allowed only five prescriptions a month unless a doctor's prior approval allowed them to have two more.