Joe Conason: Texas Medicaid’s Vast and Dangerous Wastefulness

[marmar]

from truthdig:



Texas Medicaid’s Vast and Dangerous Wastefulness

Posted on Sep 8, 2011
By Joe Conason


Both as governor of Texas and as the leading Republican presidential candidate, Rick Perry has established himself as a harsh critic of federal programs—and, in particular, as a “state’s rights” advocate who accuses Washington of gross ineptitude and waste in providing services such as health care for the poor and elderly.

In his 2010 book “Fed Up” and in his campaign speeches, Perry has often asserted that the states, simply left to do the job without federal interference, could perform far better. The theme is highly popular, like Perry himself, in tea party circles.

“It is through states that the American people get the job done every day,” he wrote in his book, “often in spite of a deeply flawed bureaucratic federal government.” Late last year, when he proposed that Texas drop out of Medicaid altogether, he said: “We know how to deliver health care to more people in a less expensive way than what the federal government does. I need more states to stand up and say we don’t want your strings attached. We don’t want you down here telling us how to run our business.”

If only Texas could operate wholly independently of federal rules, he insisted, “you will see more people in the state of Texas who will have more coverage and frankly we’ll save money at the end of the day, as will the federal government.” ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/how_texas_medicaid_wasted_vast_sums_lethally_20110908/?ln

[northoftheborder]

1. good golden truth to spread around

[LongTomH]

3. Spread this stuff over your lawn and garden

Good fertilizer!

[OHdem10]

2. The truth is --if it were not for the Federal Aid to States like Texas

the poor would be hung out to dry.