Donnelly ekes out small Medicaid victory

By Virginia Young 

The House wrapped up its work on the state budget tonight with a debate on whether to restore the 2005 cuts Republicans made in health care for the poor.

While Democrats tried several times to reinstate some of the coverage and services, only one attempt succeeded.

That amendment - by Rep. Margaret Donnelly, D-Richmond Heights - allotted $2.2 million for occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy for adults. The funding comes on top of about $370,000 Donnelly secured in the House Budget Committee.

Without the funding, "some physicians don't even do knee replacements because, if you don't have physical therapy, it won't work effectively," Donnelly said.

On a 79-73 vote, colleagues agreed to take the money from Medicaid hospital payments.

Donnelly, one of the most knowledgeable Democrats on the Medicaid issue, is serving her last session in the House. A lawyer, she is running for attorney general.