Medicaid Advocates See Virginia’s Expansion Decision As Broader Political Shift
Virginia's decision to expand Medicaid after years of resistance is giving some hope that opposition against the issue has lessened in recent years. Meanwhile, in Texas, poor state oversight has led to companies skimping on essential care for sick children and disabled adults.
The Hill:
Health Advocates Sense Momentum On Medicaid Expansion
Opponents argue Medicaid expansion will lead to runaway spending. Virginia's Republican state Senate majority leader, Tommy Norment, denounced the state's move on Wednesday, saying it “abandons Virginia’s long-standing reputation for fiscal responsibility." But backers sense that the politics have shifted on the issue. With former President Obama out of office and ObamaCare repeal efforts seemingly dead in Congress, there could be less resistance to accepting changes as part of the health-care law. (Sullivan, 6/2)
Dallas Morning News:
As Patients Suffer, Companies Rack Up Profits
When Texas turned over many of its health programs to private companies to manage, they promised to save taxpayers millions while delivering better health care to more than 4 million Texans, including about 720,000 medically fragile children and adults. But years of inept state regulation have allowed corporations to profit as they skimp on care for sick kids and disabled adults in the program known as Medicaid managed care. And Texas health officials have hidden the full extent of the problems from the public. (McSwane and Chavez, 6/3)
Dallas Morning News:
What Is Medicaid?
In Texas, it covers more than 4.5 million people ‒ 1 out of every 7 residents. Most of the people we’re talking about are poor kids, with incomes under $22,000 a year for a family of two. Others are elderly and disabled people. Some of them are children so sick that their families can’t pay all the costs of their care. And all foster kids are covered by Medicaid. The federal government covers almost 58 percent of the cost of Medicaid, or about $23 billion. The state pays about $17 billion. (McSwane and Chavez, 6/3)
