Kaiser Family Foundation Asks Serious Questions About Cutting Entitlement Programs for the Poor

Well before we have any clarity on the impact of the election on health reform, the pundits are handicapping the prospects of efforts to make a serious dent in the national debt and deficit. Three national commissions are hammering out recommendations for reducing the debt and reining in entitlement spending, putting two giant health programs that serve the elderly, disabled and low-income Americans, Medicaid and Medicare, as well as Social Security, in the crosshairs of a new policy debate...

Nearly half (47%) of all elderly and disabled people on Medicare have incomes below twice the federal poverty level (less than $20,800 for an individual and $28,000 for a couple in 2008). Poverty rates are even higher among women, African American and Latino Medicare beneficiaries. And two-thirds of the 8 million disabled people on Medicare who are under age 65 have incomes below twice the poverty rate; beneficiaries with disabilities face more serious access problems than others on the medicare program...

If new policies are proposed to rein in entitlement spending and reduce the deficit, it seems only reasonable to include the following criterion among others for evaluating proposals: do no harm to the financial security or access to care for elderly and disabled beneficiaries living on low and modest incomes. Indeed, given the high out-of-pocket costs these groups have, and the large share of their incomes they already pay for health care, a comprehensive approach might well seek to improve circumstances for these most vulnerable groups, while also advancing "hard choices" for entitlement programs to reduce the deficit.

www.kff.org/pullingittogether/People-Behind-The-Entitlement-Debate.cfm

Benton Harbor Seeks Promise Zone Designation from Lansing

Benton Harbor Area Schools officials say they are hoping to send their outgoing students to college for free in the near future.

Although still in its preliminary stages, Leonard Seawood, the district's superintendent, said officials are putting together a plan to present to the state in hopes of approval for such a program.

"We've had to go through the hurdles," he said.

The idea was first started in Kalamazoo a few years ago. It's called the Kalamazoo Promise and provides for any high school graduate in Kalamazoo's public school system accepted into a Michigan college or university to receive free tuition. The program, which has since been implemented in other districts around the state, is privately funded.

Seawood said there are 18 other sites around the state that are in the same boat as Benton Harbor and attempting to receive backing from the state, which is required. He added the most important question is how the district will raise the money to pay for the tuition.

www.southbendtribune.com/article/20101110/News01/11100360/1052/News01