(By:  Kelly Hatmaker / KMOX ) 

Feds turn thumbs down to Governor Matt Blunt's plan
 
Federal officials have denied a waiver request the state of Missouri needs to implement some of its controversial Medicaid cuts.

The denial came in a November 21st letter to Gary Sherman from the federal Centers for Medicare and medicaid Services.

The waiver would have allowed the state to stop providing services and equipment, such as feeding tubes, canes, crutches, and wheel chair batteries that advocates said were medically necessary.

In Washington, St. Louis-area congressman Russ Carnahan led the effort to defeat the waiver request, which he called draconian and a violation of federal law.

Governor Matt Blunt says the cuts are necessary to shore up state finances... his administration now has the option of resubmitting an adjusted waiver request, to answer the federal objections.

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