Florida Gov. Rick Scott's surprising announcement that he would use federal health-care reform money to expand the Medicaid program to households earning up to 138 percent of the poverty level "means the dominoes are falling," says Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, a consumer group that lobbied for the law. He told The New York Times, “The message is, ‘Even though I may not have supported and even strongly
opposed the Affordable Care Act, it would be harmful to the citizens of
my state if I didn’t opt into taking these very substantial federal
dollars to help people who truly need it.’”
Seven Republican governors (of states outlined in Times map below) have said they will expand Medicaid, partly to protect rural hospitals and low-income people.
"The change of heart for some Republican governors has come after vigorous lobbying by health industry players, particularly hospitals," the Times notes. "Hospital associations around the country signed off on Medicaid cuts under the health care law on the assumption that their losses would be more than offset by new paying customers, including many insured by Medicaid. . . . Every few days, state hospital associations and advocates for poor people issue reports asserting that the economic benefits of expanding Medicaid would outweigh the costs." (Read more)
Seven Republican governors (of states outlined in Times map below) have said they will expand Medicaid, partly to protect rural hospitals and low-income people.
"The change of heart for some Republican governors has come after vigorous lobbying by health industry players, particularly hospitals," the Times notes. "Hospital associations around the country signed off on Medicaid cuts under the health care law on the assumption that their losses would be more than offset by new paying customers, including many insured by Medicaid. . . . Every few days, state hospital associations and advocates for poor people issue reports asserting that the economic benefits of expanding Medicaid would outweigh the costs." (Read more)
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