Our Health Policy Matters

As Congress works through the challenge of changing Obamacare, how the federal government pays its share of Medicaid dollars will be part of the debate. At first, Medicaid was designed primarily to offer to people with chronic conditions the long-term care benefits that Medicare did not. It pays much of our nation’s nursing home bill.  It was later expanded to provide safety net insurance to low income families, especially for women and children. Medicaid is a federal/state partnership program. The states design their own programs within federally-established rules, and the federal government reimburses half (or more) of the state’s cost. The Affordable Care Act added a new wrinkle to the cost-sharing formula.  For those states that expanded the Medicaid program to serve even more people, including uninsured single adults, it offered 90+ percent reimbursement for the new populations.  To date, 32 states have expanded. What’s wrong with Medicaid? Medicaid costs...

As Congress works through the challenge of changing Obamacare, how the federal government pays its share of Medicaid dollars will be part of the debate. At first, Medicaid was designed primarily to offer to people with chronic conditions the long-term care benefits that Medicare did not. It pays much of our nation’s nursing home bill.  It was later expanded to provide safety net insurance to low income families, especially for women and children. Medicaid is a federal/state partnership program. The states design their own programs within federally-established rules, and the federal government reimburses half (or more) of the state’s cost. The Affordable Care Act added a new wrinkle to the cost-sharing formula.  For those states that expanded the Medicaid program to serve even more people, including uninsured single adults, it offered 90+ percent reimbursement for the new populations.  To date, 32 states have expanded. What’s wrong with Medicaid? Medicaid costs...

It is worth noting on this “traditional” Memorial Day of May 30 th that over 6,400 service people have lost their lives so far while fighting our two most recent wars. Unless we put more money into health and mental health care, many thousands more will eventually lose their lives fighting the physical and mental effects of these wars. This past weekend, we learned that 45% of returning Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans are seeking compensation for service-related injuries .  The challenge of finding the billions of dollars needed to treat these men and women will test us as a nation.  It will likely stoke the fires of yet another protracted battle about “public option” health care in America. This fight is about to take place because of two reasons. The first is that the percentage of veterans seeking compensation is twice what it was in past wars.  “Invisible” injuries with behavioral manifestations, like PTSD and traumatic brain injury, accou...

It is worth noting on this “traditional” Memorial Day of May 30 th that over 6,400 service people have lost their lives so far while fighting our two most recent wars. Unless we put more money into health and mental health care, many thousands more will eventually lose their lives fighting the physical and mental effects of these wars. This past weekend, we learned that 45% of returning Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans are seeking compensation for service-related injuries .  The challenge of finding the billions of dollars needed to treat these men and women will test us as a nation.  It will likely stoke the fires of yet another protracted battle about “public option” health care in America. This fight is about to take place because of two reasons. The first is that the percentage of veterans seeking compensation is twice what it was in past wars.  “Invisible” injuries with behavioral manifestations, like PTSD and traumatic brain injury, accou...

Policymakers across the country have declared war on health.   You may have missed the headline, but this is a war with many casualties. Its objective is to topple health care as we know it.   When health care falls, our health will be the victim. Battles are raging in many states to cut the legs out from under health care financing. The Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee recently voted to eliminate the Medicaid program.   This would make 1.3 million people uninsured and cost the state $7.5 billion in federal funding.   A Florida Senate leader has threatened to eliminate Medicaid unless the federal government agrees to massive changes.   This would cost Florida over $10 billion, and make 3 million people uninsured. Wisconsin’s Governor has proposed dropping over 60,000 people from Medicaid because they are too rich.   “Too rich” means a two-person household income of less than $29,100.       Medicaid isn’t the only target.  ...

Policymakers across the country have declared war on health.   You may have missed the headline, but this is a war with many casualties. Its objective is to topple health care as we know it.   When health care falls, our health will be the victim. Battles are raging in many states to cut the legs out from under health care financing. The Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee recently voted to eliminate the Medicaid program.   This would make 1.3 million people uninsured and cost the state $7.5 billion in federal funding.   A Florida Senate leader has threatened to eliminate Medicaid unless the federal government agrees to massive changes.   This would cost Florida over $10 billion, and make 3 million people uninsured. Wisconsin’s Governor has proposed dropping over 60,000 people from Medicaid because they are too rich.   “Too rich” means a two-person household income of less than $29,100.       Medicaid isn’t the only target.  ...