The Florida legislature rejected Medicaid expansion. This is not a good precedent.
When Governor Rick Snyder announced his support for Medicaid expansion in Michigan, most Republicans (and Democrats) were shocked. Almost as shocked as they were when Florida Governor Rick Scott did the same, considering what a vocal opponent he’d been of Obamacare.
But credit to both Republicans for putting aside politics and doing what’s right for the citizens of their states. Too bad their Republican-controlled legislatures don’t feel the same way.
Last Friday, the Florida legislature adjourned after passing a budget that did not include the funds necessary to support Medicaid expansion. As reported by Sarah Kliff in the Washington Post, this leaves an estimated 1.3 million Floridians without coverage they might have obtained through Medicaid expansion.
The Michigan legislature is playing the same game, refusing to include Medicaid expansion in the state budget. As I’ve written here before, the states do bear a small financial responsibility for Medicaid expansion. But those costs will be incurred regardless of whether Medicaid expansion is adopted — and it’s a small price to pay in exchange for more than $1 billion in funding Medicaid expansion would bring into the state.
Not to mention that up to 730,000 uninsured Michiganders could finally get insurance under the expansion, improving public health and ultimately saving all of us the financial burden of caring for the uninsured.
Don’t let Michigan follow in Florida’s footsteps. Sign the petitions below and contact your representatives to let them know you support Medicaid expansion in Michigan.
