I fear Corbett is playing a political game with Medicaid, and has no interest in covering people

[JPZenger]

http://www.indianagazette.com/news/reg-national-world/proposed-medicaid-plan-questioned,18243830/

So Corbett is seeking that the feds approve a full set of modifications and waivers to the existing Medicaid program and Obamacare. At least one is not allowed under federal law. Others may require lengthy public comment periods under federal regulations.

However, he STILL hasn't submitted a formal request to the feds, for coverage that is supposed to start Jan. 1. He announced an intent to seek these requested modifications about a year ago, but only held occasional discussions with federal officials, and never submitted the changes for approval.

I fear that he has no interest in providing affordable health insurance, but instead is simply playing a political game of blaming the evil federal government. He always opposed Obamacare and this week reminded everyone he went to court to try to stop it. He is following a process that is doomed to fail - which is what he wants. Remember that the first thing he did when he took office was eliminate a PA. program to provide state health insurance that subsidized health insurance for poor people.

(The second thing he did upon taking office was to slash state spending for public schools in the budget that had been approved 6 months earlier, and plug the gap with federal funds that were supposed to be used to avoid teacher layoffs in the following school year).

He also is seeking that all expanded coverage occur through private insurance companies instead of a Medicaid expansion. The problem is that private insurance costs much more per person than Medicaid, and he can't explain where those dollars will magically appear.

Excerpts from link:

"So far, the Corbett administration has submitted a 12-page “concept paper” to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Seeking changes, as Corbett is, to the Medicaid expansion envisioned by the 2010 law will require a long process of public comment periods and federal review.

That would mean coverage for about 520,000 uninsured Pennsylvania adults who are newly eligible, the Corbett administration said for the first time Monday.

Other elements of Corbett’s Medicaid plan could run into trouble. Analysts say Corbett’s desire to require able-bodied, working-age Medicaid enrollees to show that they are actively searching for jobs and to impose premiums on people who earn below 100 percent of the federal poverty level is not allowed by federal law."

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http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20130919_Inquirer_Editorial__Better_to_expand_Medicaid.html

Today's Phila. Inquirer Editorial tells Corbett to just accept the 100% federal funding for the Medicaid expansion, and stop trying to force excessive conditions upon accepting the money.

[JPZenger]

1. Excellent column about the need to accept fed. money to expand Medicaid in PA.

http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/09/healthypa_or_harmful_delay_questions_remain_about_corbett_medicaid_plan_antoinette_kraus.html#incart_flyout_opinion

Excerpts:

"PA. will receive $43 billion in federal funding to expand Medicaid -- dollars that will boost our state’s economy over the next decade. Three different economic impact studies paint a positive economic picture for Pennsylvania, finding that Medicaid expansion will create over 35,000 good-paying jobs across the state, generate over $3 billion in new economic activity each year, and save taxpayers’ money -- over $430 million annually over the next decade, according to PA’s Independent Fiscal Office.

The Affordable Care Act intended for every state to expand Medicaid on January 1, 2014 to anyone earning below 138 percent of the poverty level (about $15,600 for an individual or $31,809. for a family of three). The law provides tax credits and financial protections to people earning above the poverty level, expecting that those earning less would be covered by Medicaid.

There are about 400,000 hardworking Pennsylvanians in this gap who will be left uninsured if the governor fails to act. Full federal funding is there to cover them in 2014, and that’s when we need to start."

[JPZenger]

2. Good editorial: Corbett says meet my demands or 500,000 of my citizens don't get health care

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/09/editorial_corbett_ultimatum_on.html#incart_river_default

Excerpt:

"It’s difficult to grasp the potential of Corbett’s new “Healthy Pennsylvania” initiative because we don’t know all the details. (Sound familiar?) While this approach needs to be analyzed for affordability and efficiency, there’s no escaping Corbett’s need for political cover in his re-election bid. If he accepts a Medicaid expansion, conservatives will savage him for capitulating to the Obama administration. If he punts altogether, Democrats will gladly seize upon the Republican governor’s decision to opt out of federal health insurance for a vulnerable segment of the population.

Let’s not lose sight of the underlying reason for a federal Medicaid expansion — to keep the working poor, disabled people, seniors and children from slipping through the cracks of reform, as well as lowering costs by steering them away from emergency-room treatment and into family doctor coverage and preventative care programs."



Corbett's version - meet my long list of demands, or the poor people die from lack of health care

[JPZenger]

3. NPR covered PA. and Corbett's Medicaid Demands This Morning

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/09/26/226155355/a-medicaid-expansion-in-pennsylvania-may-take-time