SUBSTANCE-ABUSE AGENCY WOULD LOSE HALF OF FUNDS

JEFFERSON CITY -- The Missouri Department of Mental Health opened its books
to a Senate committee Monday amid protests against Gov. Matt Blunt's
proposed cuts.

Department director Dorn Schuffman told the Senate Appropriations Committee
that the division of alcohol and drug abuse would lose nearly half its
funding to Blunt's proposed Medicaid cuts, which total about $12 million.

"We would see a 45 percent reduction in the coverage program if these cuts
go through," Schuffman said.

The division's costs were an estimated $23 million last year.

Blunt has allotted $480.6 million for mental health services in his budget,
a 7.9 percent decrease from last year.

Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, co-chairman of the appropriations committee,
said the cuts were necessary.

"We have the second-most-expensive Medicaid program in the country," Nodler
said. "And we are soon to be number one."

Medicaid cuts have met much opposition since Blunt announced them during his
State of the State address in January. Linda Grgurich of Preferred Family
Healthcare, a provider of comprehensive mental health services, was at the
Capitol on Monday to voice her displeasure.

"We've been here two days a week since Blunt proposed his budget," Grgurich
said. "We're taking a disproportionate cut."