In the latest New Yorker (the one with the cover of a dog with blue booties), “The Talk of the Town” lead article discusses the Affordable Care Act. It notes that obstructionism takes a number of forms:
1. states are refusing to accept federal funds to expand their Medicaid programs. Under the law the funds cover 100% of state costs for three years and 90% of the costs after three years. Twenty-five states are turning down this assistance, depriving poor people of health care.
2. states are refusing to operate a state health exchange that would give individuals insurance options. They are forcing consumers to use the national exchange (one reason for the computer overload), and then they complain about a Washington takeover of health care.
3. outright sabotage. Conservative groups are sponsoring ads urging young people to go without insurance and violate the law.
4. passing laws against “navigators.” Here’s one example. Tennessee adopted an emergency rule that people trying to help consumers navigate the law must undergo a criminal background check, fingerprinting, and twelve hours of course work.
5. and, of course, there are the House Republicans.
Maybe the states should be told, you have three months to accept the extra Medicaid money or it will go to the other states for additional use. I doubt it would ever happen but one thing politicians do understand is money.
ReplyDeleteOne republican said or words to the effect "we want to get something out of this and we don't even know what it is". Maybe they would be happy with a toaster.