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. ...
An occasional column focusing on federal, state, and local health policy