Team Manchin Rapped for Health Care Cuts

Legislators smacked around Health and Human Resources Secretary Martha Walker and one of her top aides Monday.

The lawmakers were reacting to a new audit that revisits the 2005 ruckus created when Walker's agency tried to downsize the Aged & Disabled Waiver program.

The program allows folks in those categories to stay in their homes while receiving care. At the time, DHHR said it was trying to make eligibility criteria more objective. The audit cites DHHR meeting minutes that show "officials spoke of saving money if they cut the number of people served," The Associated Press reports.

The audit also concludes that some of the reports exaggerated the fallout of the downsizing, particularly the number of West Virginians forced into costlier nursing homes or hospitals.

The Charleston Gazette also reports on some of the drubbing from Monday's interim meeting.

Update: Public Broadcasting has a piece on the audit as well (with audio).