If you read the supreme court ruling on the Affordable Care Act, the most basic way to describe the ruling is that the entire law was upheld with two caveats:
- The individual mandate is constitutional only under congress’ taxing authority (not the commerce clause); and
- The federal government does not have the power to penalize states as heavily if the states decide to opt-out of the law’s Medicaid expansion.
The individual mandate obviously has been getting most of the coverage — but some of the media is finally turning to the importance of states being able to opt-out of its Medicaid expansion; this was brought on by states like Florida and South Carolina deciding to opt out and other red states signaling that they might also. Just to put things in perspective, if Florida opts out of the Medicaid expansion, 951,622 people expected to gain Medicaid coverage won’t get it.
Since Mr. Corbett started getting pressed on the issue, he’s been giving non-answers like:
“I will work to ensure Pennsylvanians have access to affordable and quality health care.”
And his administration spokeswoman saying:
“We need to take the time to review the decision and see what our options are.”
Barf.
Estimates put the number of Pennsylvanians that will now be eligible for Medicaid at approximately 800,000. It’s not like Pennsylvania has to foot the bill for this fully, either. Funding starts from the federal government at 100% of costs until 2017, where it drops to 95%, then to 90% in 2020.
Everybody should hold Corbett’s feet to the fire on this. If he actually wants Pennsylvanians to have access to health care, he should be 100% game for the Medicaid expansion — and go on record as saying such as soon as possible. Aren’t Republicans supposed to hate economic uncertainty?
Let’s face it. Corbett and his cronies are opposed to anyone who isn’t a rich white guy and drilling for gas. I’ve been uninsurable since my parents’ cancers in 1994 and have pretty much become used to ignoring health issues like my beat-up knees and damaged back, and going about my business as usual. I’m resigned to the fact that I’ll never be allowed the right to purchase health insurance. My sick mother, who has gone from upper middle-class to destitute in nine years flat, was just approved for Medicaid. In West Virginia. Where I’d placed her well beyond Corbett’s reach.
Have I mentioned that I’m sick and tired of the Tea Party? We used to have other, less socially acceptable terminology for these people.
It seems pretty stupid to give up $17 billion in federal money on Medicaid Expansion, in order to “save” $1 billion. Are the hospitals (AHA) going to allow Harrisburg to do this?