[StBernard] Let's meet on Medicaid, Mr. President

[Westley Annis]

Let's meet on Medicaid, Mr. President

Washington Post
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By Governor Bobby Jindal
1/28/13

".Medicaid operates under a 1960s model of medicine, with inflexible,
one-size-fits-all benefits and little consumer engagement and
responsibility. Expanding the entitlement program as it stands would further
cement a separate and unequal tier of health coverage. Without fundamental
reform, Medicaid will continue to deliver what it has for decades: limited
access, poor quality and budget deficits.

Fortunately, after nearly a half-century of running this program, states
know its problems and how to address them.

A number of Republican governors have asked to meet with President Obama to
discuss their solutions, but the White House has ignored these requests.

Our ideas to fix Medicaid target several areas for reform: eligibility,
benefit design, cost-sharing, use of the private insurance market, financing
and accountability.

First, the process to determine eligibility should be simple, accurate and
fair. The process should be easier for consumers to navigate and for states
to administer. States should have the flexibility to set eligibility
standards that make sense for residents, instead of the rigid,
one-size-fits-all approach dictated by Washington.

States should be allowed to design their programs to promote value and
individual ownership in health-care decisions. This includes using
consumer-directed products, flexible benefit design, and reasonable and
enforceable cost-sharing requirements. States must be freed from decades-old
rules that are no longer relevant to 21st-century health care.

States should be able to make use of their private health insurance market
through their Medicaid eligibility levels, program design and ability to
offer premium assistance. 

Finally, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should streamline
Medicaid financing and improve the process to give states more flexibility,
coupled with greater accountability.

President Obama said in 2009 that 'we can't simply put more people into a
broken system that doesn't work.' He was right, and today's Medicaid model
doesn't give states adequate flexibility to improve health outcomes or lower
overall costs.

.Instead of rushing to expand Medicaid as-is, the president and Health and
Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius should first engage in earnest
discussions with state leaders. Many of us are eager to reform existing
programs rather than spend more money on a rigid and expensive program that
won't work for states, beneficiaries or taxpayers. So, let's meet, Mr.
President."

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