Court Delays Plan to Improve Medicare

A federal appeals court granted the state’s request to delay a court-ordered plan to improve its children’s Medicaid program. The ruling by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals overturns a ruling last week by U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice denying the request. The plan was part of Justice’s Aug. 14 order that said Texas does not adequately provide dental care, regular checkups, transportation to doctors or information about available services to children in Medicaid, despite its 1996 promise to make major improvements to the program. The program has come under heavy scrutiny as Gov. George W. Bush runs for president. Vice President Al Gore has referred to the ruling when pressing Bush on Medicaid issues. Texas is appealing the entire Aug. 14 order.