There's been a fairly consistent battle over the last few years in Missouri about Medicaid eligibility. Nearly every elected Democratic lawmaker wants to raise income eligibility levels to cover more people, while Republican fear such a move will break the state's budget.
That rhetorical fight could cross over to other states, especially if Congress passes legislation forcing states to raise Medicaid eligibility levels.
The New York Times is reporting that the nation's governors are upset about a bill that would raise Medicaid eligibility to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. An early draft would have the federal government pick up the costs for the first few years, but then shift the share to the states.
From the article:
Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee, a Democrat, said he feared Congress was about to bestow “the mother of all unfunded mandates.”
“Medicaid
is a poor vehicle for expanding coverage,” added Mr. Bredesen, a former
health care executive. “It’s a 45-year-old system originally designed
for poor women and their children. It’s not health care reform to dump more money into Medicaid.”
Mr.
Bredesen was far from alone in his concern. “As a governor, my concern
is that if we try to cost-shift to the states we’re not going to be in
a position to pick up the tab,” said Gov. Christine Gregorie of Washington, also a Democrat.
“I’m personally very concerned about the cost issue, particularly the $1 trillion figures being batted around,” said Gov. Bill Richardson, the New Mexico Democrat who served in the Clinton cabinet and ran for president against Mr. Obama.
If this bill passes, it would certain throw a monkey wrench of sorts into the debate in Missouri over expanding the health care program for the poor.
Read the rest of the article here.
