Suit filed on Medicaid cuts

Nursing homes want reserve funds used

The Mississippi Health Care Association, the Independent Nursing Home Association and dozens of nursing homes from across the state filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to stop the Mississippi Division of Medicaid from making a planned $14 million cut in payments to providers.

The lawsuit filed in Hinds County Chancery Court late Thursday afternoon argues that state reserve funds can be used to shore up the Medicaid budget and the cuts are unnecessary.

The suit seeks an injunction to stop the cuts over the uncertainty of "adequate funding" for providers.

The Mississippi Pharmacists Association and the Mississippi Independent Pharmacies Association joined the lawsuit.

The cuts are pending federal permission.

Dan Turner, spokesman for Gov. Haley Barbour, said the governor's office had not reviewed the lawsuit and did not have a comment.

The Clarion Ledger