[StBernard] ICYMI: Bobby Jindal - Fix Medicaid, Don't Expand It

[Westley Annis]

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 
Fix Medicaid, Don't Expand It


Fix Medicaid, Don't Expand It
By Gov. Bobby Jindal and Senator Tom Coburn Real Clear Politics June 21,
2013 http://www.realclearpolicy.com/articles/2013/06/21/
fix_medicaid_dont_expand_it_541.html
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Excerpts:
 
"When the Supreme Court decided Obamacare's massive expansion of Medicaid
would be an unconstitutional 'gun to the head' of states -- which would have
forced states to either expand Medicaid or lose all federal Medicaid dollars
-- the Court solved one problem for states but created another. States now
have to decide whether to voluntarily accept Obamacare's Medicaid dollars or
develop their own, innovative ways to serve their state's low-income
populations.
 
We believe the more responsible and compassionate solution is to reform,
rather than expand, Medicaid.

.

The Supreme Court found Obamacare's forced Medicaid expansion would have
fundamentally changed the nature of the program. They were right. Medicaid
was designed to be a safety net for certain low-income Americans with
special needs - mothers and children and the long-term aged, blind, and
disabled - not an entitlement program for Americans with the means to make
reasonable contributions to the cost of their coverage.
 
Expanding Medicaid would undermine the private market and essentially herd
Americans into government-run "care." But let's remember, that was the
President's original goal in the first place.

.

Even if the federal government has good intentions, the money just isn't
there. And make no mistake, states already face substantial budgetary
pressures from Medicaid. Under the status quo, Medicaid spending will
continue to consume nearly a quarter of every state dollar, passing
education as the largest state budgetary commitment. Increased Medicaid
spending will further crowd out other state spending and make the fiscal
outlook for states even worse.

.

The bottom line is that the proposed Medicaid expansion is very expensive
counterfeit compassion from Washington. The expansion is like a shady
subprime loan that creates the illusion of free money up front in order to
hide massive and devastating costs down the road.
 
The real compassionate solution is to reform -- not expand -- the Medicaid
program."
 
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