Many don't have access to Internet

To the editor:One of the proposed changes in Missouri Medicaid involves the use of the Internet by clients. This proposal either ignores reality or shows a lack of knowledge about some of the poor people and conditions in rural Missouri.

Many poor people cannot afford Internet access, even if they have a computer. Some government officials say these people can go to their local library and use the Internet. The reality is that federal, state and local governments have cut funding to libraries, causing reductions in the number of paid library staff or a reduction in hours that libraries are open.

Many rural Missourians do not have library access. People who do not live in a town that has a library must buy a library card to have privileges. In some instances, if an individual does not buy a library card, he has to pay an hourly fee for using computers and the Internet.

Stoddard County has 29,7605 people, according to the last census. Only 11,720 of those people live in a town with a library. That is 60 percent of the population of Stoddard County who either have to provide their own Internet service or pay for library services. In other words, they will have to pay to apply for Medicaid.

PATRICIA L. ELMORE, Bloomfield, Mo.