So Happy For Today's Ruling, But What About Medicaid?

[jpbollma]

I'm sorry if this question has already been asked. I am ecstatic about the ruling today, however, what will we do with the ruling regarding the Medicaid portion of the bill? Is there a way to remedy this that is realistic in the current environment? If these people aren't covered it will really cause more suffering and also continue to cost more money.

[EFerrari]

1. Congress has to pass legislation that will induce the states

to expand Medicaid. As I understand it (and I may be wrong) the Feds can't withhold funds right now to states that won't go with the expansion. But Congress can pass a bill that says, we will fund you if you implement the expansion.

[Zalatix]

6. The states that are refusing to extend Medicaid aren't doing it for the money.

They're doing it because they hate Medicaid.

[EFerrari]

7. Well, that may be right but we'll have to see.

Maybe some of the non-Medicaid hating states will also try to hold up the Feds now.

You can't blame them for trying. They're all broke.

[frazzled]

2. Few states will opt out, in all probability

In the first three years, the federal government is going to be paying 100% of the cost of insuring those extra people under Medicaid (for those who don't remember: eligibility is being raised in the new law to people earning up to 133% of the poverty rate). And I believe they pay a substantial portion (80%?) after that. By that time, people and states are going to be hard-pressed to give it up, because of the good it does.

Also, Congress can make a fix on this by other means. They are not going to leave out this neediest group.

[EFerrari]

4. "They are not going to leave out this neediest group."

Why do you think so?

Why would their historical behavior change now?

[grasswire]

3. 16 states are involved

and as Lawrence O'Donnell's expert said tonight, while those states would have to pay out some money to accept the federal money, eventually those states will see that the ACA is going to save states many dollars in other ways, and their budgets may allow participation.

[jpbollma]

5. Thank you for the information!

I was uninformed in this area of the bill. This is heartening, it sounds like someone would have to be very extreme to reject the funds, and the voters would likely punish them. Even the Health industry would be against such idiocy. I can't begin to express how happy I am that more people will be covered. Ted Kennedy would be smiling right now.

[FarCenter]

8. Current federal funding for Medicaid is 50% for the big blue states

Some red states get over 70%.

http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparetable.jsp?ind=184&cat=4

[jpbollma]

9. It's No Shock

The Red States are welfare queens.