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

[JPZenger]

1. Excellent column about the need to accept fed. money to expand Medicaid in PA.

http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/09/healthypa_or_harmful_delay_questions_remain_about_corbett_medicaid_plan_antoinette_kraus.html#incart_flyout_opinion

Excerpts:

"PA. will receive $43 billion in federal funding to expand Medicaid -- dollars that will boost our state’s economy over the next decade. Three different economic impact studies paint a positive economic picture for Pennsylvania, finding that Medicaid expansion will create over 35,000 good-paying jobs across the state, generate over $3 billion in new economic activity each year, and save taxpayers’ money -- over $430 million annually over the next decade, according to PA’s Independent Fiscal Office.

The Affordable Care Act intended for every state to expand Medicaid on January 1, 2014 to anyone earning below 138 percent of the poverty level (about $15,600 for an individual or $31,809. for a family of three). The law provides tax credits and financial protections to people earning above the poverty level, expecting that those earning less would be covered by Medicaid.

There are about 400,000 hardworking Pennsylvanians in this gap who will be left uninsured if the governor fails to act. Full federal funding is there to cover them in 2014, and that’s when we need to start."