Children With Disabilities Caught In Middle Of Battle Over Medicaid Cuts

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DALLAS (CBS11) - A battle over money is going on in Texas and children with disabilities are caught in the middle.

Next week $350 million in Medicaid cuts take affect.

A study conducted by the state Health and Human Services office concluded therapists reimbursed by Medicaid were getting paid too much.

So state lawmakers have cut $350 million in reimbursement rates.

It's expected to greatly reduce the number of therapists who will treat the children of North Texas families on Medicaid.

Sonya Galik said her 9-year-old daughter, Caydie has benefitted from Medicaid-funded speech therapy that is among the services affected.

"When Caydie came to us she only knew two words and she had been neglected," said Galik. "What happens when she can't have that therapy?"

Caydie is one of the Galiks' six children.

Four are adopted and came from bad homes.

Her parents made a sacrifice to raise them and the Denton mom said the states help with medical bills was supposed to make it easier.

"It's what the state promised us," she said.

The Medicaid cuts to Caydie's speech therapy and other therapy services are expected to impact not only on her, but as many as 60,000 Texas children.

"It breaks my heart the other children won't be able to get the services and that Katie won't be able to get the services," she said. "I mean why should she not be able to be a rockstar when she grows up."

Several child advocacy groups have appealed to the governor and lieutenant governor to stop the cuts before they take effect.

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