Commission seeks testimony on health care

Due to cancelled hearings in southern Missouri, four Democratic lawmakers on the Medicaid Reform Commission are independently soliciting testimony in the state. On Wednesday, a Medicaid hearing for the public will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the St. John's Heart Institute in Springfield, Mo.

The panel was formed to gather testimony that will help design a new public health-care system to replace Medicaid, which will face cuts in 2007 due to a bill that became law this year. In early October, the panel's Republican chairman, Sen. Charlie Shields, cancelled meetings in Cape Girardeau and Springfield and opted to hold a two-day session in Jefferson City, Mo. In response, 16 presiding county commissioners wrote a letter that petitioned Shields to reconsider his decision to cancel the meetings.

The commission Democrats to participate will be state Sens. Rita Heard Days and Pat Dougherty and state Reps. Margaret Donnelly and Yaphett El-Amin. Those wishing to testify should contact Sen. Day's office at (573) 751-4106 or by e-mail at ritadays@senate. mo.gov.