Area lawmakers expect Medicaid issues to get attention this weekas a court order affecting thousands of recipients is set to expireJan. 31.

“I’m sure there will be many Medicaid discussions this week,”said District 39 Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, mentioning two upcomingPublic Health committee meetings on the topic.

Following a dispute between lawmakers and the governor overMedicaid reductions last year, a judge issued a court orderpreventing Poverty Level Aged and Disabled (PLAD) beneficiariesfrom being cut. That order expires next week.

“We’ve got to act in a hurry,” said District 92 Rep. Dr. JimBarnett.

That means lawmakers must find ways to address the lingeringissue.

“There are a lot of options,” said Barnett, R-Brookhaven, whosaid he is not for cutting PLADs.

Indicating a possible reduction, Barnett mentioned the stateproviding Medicaid benefits to those who make 135 percent of thefederal poverty level. Benefits must be provided for seniorcitizens whose income is at 75 percent of the federal povertylevel. Mississippi is the only state that sets the cutoff at 135percent.

Another option Barnett mentioned was a switch to requiringgeneric drugs instead of name brands.

“We’d save over $100 million a year just by doing that,” Barnettsaid.

Hyde-Smith, D-Brookhaven, said there was nothing definiteregarding how the Senate plans to address the issue. She said shewas unsure what will come out of committee.

Medicaid and education make up a majority of the state’s budget.How lawmakers address those likely will impact other areas.

Barnett said he expected to see some cuts. He supported Gov.Haley Barbour’s proposal to cut state agencies’ budgets by 5percent, with the exceptions of education, mental health, thehighway patrol, the National Guard and Medicaid.

“I think these agencies can live within these cuts,” Barnettsaid.

Another option that has surfaced again this year is thepossibility of a lottery. While both Barnett and Hyde-Smith saidthey had received much correspondence against the proposal, theyoffered differing opinions on its chances.

“I don’t think it’s going anywhere,” Hyde-Smith said. “There’snot enough support in the Senate and I don’t think there’s enoughin the House to make that happen.”

While he personally was opposed to the idea, Barnett said thestate’s budget situation may force the lottery to become a reality.If ever there was a year when a lottery would be successful, it isthis year, Barnett said.

“I think we’ve gotten into such a bind, we’ll have to,” Barnettsaid.

Barnett recalled speaking against the lottery early in hislegislative career. He said the lottery was not a ways and meansbill but an education bill in that it teaches young people togamble.

By having tickets available at convenience stores and otherplaces, Barnett said there would be easier access than having to goto a casino. He also pointed out a belief that those who couldleast afford to gamble would do so more often with a lottery.

“I think it would take food out of the mouths of children,”Barnett said.

Recalling an earlier statement, Hyde-Smith indicated that thestate’s financial problems cannot be solved via sin taxes and thelike.

“I don’t think we can drink, smoke or gamble our way out ofthis,” Hyde-Smith said.