NATCHEZ &045;&045; Helping to alleviate concerns of Medicaid patients and customers has been part of their job during the last couple of weeks, some Natchez health care providers said Friday, the day the state Medicaid office has said it would be broke and could no longer pay its clients.

&uot;We’ve already told our recipients that we’ll keep filling their prescriptions,&uot; said Frank Ernst, a pharmacist at Ernst Pharmacy. &uot;They are confused and concerned. We tell them there will be Medicaid and we will cover them in between.&uot;

Gov. Haley Barbour called the Legislature back to the capitol for a rare Saturday session today with the charge of coming to an agreement on Medicaid funding. The program already has borrowed $50 million, with the governor urging legislators to take money from the tobacco trust fund to fund the program.

It is estimated that about one in four Mississippians depends on Medicaid for health care.

The Senate and the House have been unable to come to an agreement over the funding. Both houses adjourned early on Friday, but conference committee members continued to negotiate.

Ernst said he had talked to most of the pharmacists in privately owned drug stores as well as in the large chain stores. &uot;We’ll all keep filling prescriptions until the bank tells us, ‘enough,’&uot; he said. &uot;We anticipate a solution in two weeks.&uot;

Dr. J.R. Todd said his medical clinic has been busy through the week and that some patients have been concerned, but he has assured them that nothing is going to change.

&uot;My commitment is to my patients, and I will go on as if Medicaid is still in existence,&uot; Todd said. &uot;When I can’t go on anymore I won’t, but I don’t think it’s going to take a long time to resolve this.&uot;

Eddie Crow, administrator at Adams County Nursing Center, agreed. The 105-bed facility does have a large percentage of Medicaid patients, he said.

&uot;We’re continuing to provide the service our residents need,&uot; he said. &uot;We’re anxiously awaiting to see how the Legislature will fund Medicaid and at what level.&uot;

Some families have called with questions about their relatives’ status in the nursing center, Crow said. &uot;We’re trying to reassure them.&uot;

Because of the large number of people in the state who depend on Medicaid, Crow said he believes the solution to funding will be forthcoming.

&uot;Our employees are concerned, but they feel, as management does, that funding will happen.&uot;

Michael Winn, a pharmacist and owner of Winn Pharmacy, said he has answered many questions from customers who wonder what is going to happen.

&uot;We know we can’t give away medicine,&uot; Winn said. &uot;And some people wonder if they will be paid for prescriptions this week since the money is supposed to be gone Friday. That’s a big concern.&uot;

Like other pharmacists, he has tried to reassure his customers. &uot;I hope the Legislature, the governor and all parties will resolve this problem. The effects could be long reaching.&uot;