C’mon, Governor Snyder, do the right thing
As regular readers of this site know, we have been calling on Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to expand Medicaid coverage in our state, one of the many excellent provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA, aka “Obamacare”.) You can read LOLGOP’s pieces on this HERE and HERE and my piece HERE.
Now the Michigan Democrats are starting to move on this issue. Today, State Representative Andy Schor (D-Lansing) introduced a House Resolution today calling on Governor Snyder to expand Medicaid under the federal ACA.
As Rep. Schor notes in his press release, “under the ACA, the cost of expanding Medicaid to more residents would be covered 100 percent by the federal government from 2014 through 2016. After that, the federal government would cover no less than 90 percent of the cost.”
Here’s more:
Michigan really can’t lose under this Medicaid expansion because people will get the care they need, hospitals will get compensated for more of the uncompensated care they now provide, and taxpayers will save money when people get care early in a doctor’s office instead of using the emergency room. Proper health care also means that people will stay healthy and on the job, and that will help them better provide for their families.As many as 600,000 Michigan residents could become eligible for Medicaid under the higher poverty threshold called for in the ACA. The House Fiscal Agency (HFA) estimates that the expansion would bring as much as $2.2 billion per year in federal revenue into Michigan over a ten-year period. HFA estimates that the expansion would result in net savings to the state from 2014-1019, and would be roughly cost-neutral in following years.
Expanding Medicaid also means that more children will get proper health care, and that will help them stay in school and on track to succeed and graduate. Providing better health care under the ACA and through Medicaid is another investment in Michigan’s future. That is why I urge Gov. Snyder to accept the increased funding the federal government is offering in order to expand Medicaid to more of our needy residents.
A recent poll done for the American Cancer Society’s Action Network found that a majority of Michiganders support expanding Medicaid eligibility. Their poll showed that 63 percent of respondents supported expanding Medicaid, especially if it is funded by the federal government, compared to 23 percent who did not support the expansion.
Here’s the text of his Resolution which should be on the state Legislature website tomorrow:
A resolution to urge the Governor to accept increased Medicaid funding available under the Affordable Care Act.
Whereas, The federal Affordable Care Act contains provisions that allow states to expand their Medicaid program to cover additional individuals. The Supreme Court ruling on June 28, 2012, upheld most of the provisions of the law, except the fiscal penalty for states that do not expand Medicaid to populations under 133% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL); andWhereas, In Michigan, over 600,000 uninsured adults would be eligible for Medicaid if the state opts to participate in the expansion offered under the Affordable Care Act. According to projections in a House Fiscal Agency memorandum, the state would save about $200 million in the first year. New federal revenue to the state would range from $1.9 billion to $2.2 billion per year over a ten-year period, for a total of over $20.5 billion; and
Whereas, Medicaid expansion also has the potential to offer much needed fiscal relief to hospitals who bear the financial burden of uncompensated care for the uninsured. It is estimated that coverage for approximately one-third of Michigan’s uninsured would be provided by Medicaid expansion with a projected reduction of $300 million in uncompensated care costs. This funding could provide much needed fiscal stabilization for Michigan hospitals; and
Whereas, Michigan has an opportunity to provide health security that can improve the lives of thousands of Michigan residents in a cost effective way. This substantial federal investment can reap additional benefits by providing a sorely needed stimulus to Michigan’s economy; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Governor to accept increased Medicaid funding available to states under the Affordable Care Act; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor and the Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health.
I’m thrilled that the state Democrats are getting involved with this issue. It’s truly a win-win for Michiganders and the only reason NOT to do it is because Republicans want to thumb their noses at President Obama. Let’s hope Governor Snyder is able to rise about this sort of childish politicking.
Please click the image below and sign our petition to add your voice to the rising number of people calling for Governor Snyder to do the right thing:
