Tell Michigan’s House and Senate Appropriations Committees to include Medicaid expansion in this year’s budget
Both the Michigan House and Senate Appropriations Committees are holding hearings TOMORROW Thursday, Apr. 11, where they might decide to include Medicaid expansion in this year’s budget. Expanding and strengthening Medicaid is vitally important to Michigan’s citizens and economy.
Our friends at Michigan Consumers for Healthcare are asking everyone to show their support for including Medicaid expansion in this year’s budget. And here’s why, in their words:
The time to strengthen Medicaid is now. Michigan could miss out on the opportunity to accept federal funds to bring health insurance access to up to 500,000 Michigan citizens. Strengthening Medicaid would not cost Michigan a dime; it would in fact, save the state over $1 billion dollars over the next 10 years. Medicaid needs to be strengthened now.
The federal government pays 100% of the costs for the first three years, funding that falls gradually to 90% in 2020, where it will remain.
Yes, there are some costs to the state of Michigan related to Medicaid expansion. But those costs would be incurred whether or not Medicaid expansion is adopted. More people will be eligible for Medicaid in 2014, regardless of whether the state accepts Medicaid expansion. So instead of letting Michigan bear the entire cost, why not accept the funding the federal government is offering?
Plus, Medicaid expansion will reduce related healthcare costs, like paying for treatment of the uninsured and costs of other state-funded programs necessary for care. Not to mention that as Michigan Republicans continue slashing support for citizens in need, as reported by Eclectablog yesterday, federally-funded Medicaid expansion becomes an even more vital safety net.
This federal funding will not simply be given to Michigan. The state must accept it — and Governor Rick Snyder fully supports Medicaid expansion in Michigan. I rarely agree with him, but he’s absolutely right when he says this is good for Michigan’s public health and economy. Gov. Snyder included Medicaid expansion in his initial budget but it was taken out with a hatchet by Michigan Republicans. Now’s our chance to put this priority back in the budget.
The House Appropriations Committee meets at 9 a.m. and the Senate Appropriations Committee meets at 1 p.m. on Thursday. There’s no time to wait. Make your voice heard NOW.
Michigan Consumers for Healthcare have provided everything you need to easily take action.
Republicans — especially the Tea Party Republicans — are being extremely vocal in their opposition to Medicaid expansion. Let’s make our voices even louder and tell the Michigan legislature to do what’s right for people, not politics.
Thanks to Families USA and Michigan Consumers for Healthcare for the excellent analysis of Medicaid expansion in Michigan (pdf) that provided key facts shared in this post.
