I fear Corbett is playing a political game with Medicaid, and has no interest in covering people [View all]

[JPZenger]

http://www.indianagazette.com/news/reg-national-world/proposed-medicaid-plan-questioned,18243830/

So Corbett is seeking that the feds approve a full set of modifications and waivers to the existing Medicaid program and Obamacare. At least one is not allowed under federal law. Others may require lengthy public comment periods under federal regulations.

However, he STILL hasn't submitted a formal request to the feds, for coverage that is supposed to start Jan. 1. He announced an intent to seek these requested modifications about a year ago, but only held occasional discussions with federal officials, and never submitted the changes for approval.

I fear that he has no interest in providing affordable health insurance, but instead is simply playing a political game of blaming the evil federal government. He always opposed Obamacare and this week reminded everyone he went to court to try to stop it. He is following a process that is doomed to fail - which is what he wants. Remember that the first thing he did when he took office was eliminate a PA. program to provide state health insurance that subsidized health insurance for poor people.

(The second thing he did upon taking office was to slash state spending for public schools in the budget that had been approved 6 months earlier, and plug the gap with federal funds that were supposed to be used to avoid teacher layoffs in the following school year).

He also is seeking that all expanded coverage occur through private insurance companies instead of a Medicaid expansion. The problem is that private insurance costs much more per person than Medicaid, and he can't explain where those dollars will magically appear.

Excerpts from link:

"So far, the Corbett administration has submitted a 12-page “concept paper” to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Seeking changes, as Corbett is, to the Medicaid expansion envisioned by the 2010 law will require a long process of public comment periods and federal review.

That would mean coverage for about 520,000 uninsured Pennsylvania adults who are newly eligible, the Corbett administration said for the first time Monday.

Other elements of Corbett’s Medicaid plan could run into trouble. Analysts say Corbett’s desire to require able-bodied, working-age Medicaid enrollees to show that they are actively searching for jobs and to impose premiums on people who earn below 100 percent of the federal poverty level is not allowed by federal law."

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http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20130919_Inquirer_Editorial__Better_to_expand_Medicaid.html

Today's Phila. Inquirer Editorial tells Corbett to just accept the 100% federal funding for the Medicaid expansion, and stop trying to force excessive conditions upon accepting the money.