/PRNewswire/ -- Attorney General Tom Corbett has joined 11 of his fellow attorneys general urging the leaders of Congress to delete the Nebraska provision from the pending federal health care legislation. The provision grants Nebraska a permanent exemption from paying Medicaid expenses that all other states, including Pennsylvania, are required to pay.
Corbett and his colleagues sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid urging them to remove the Nebraska provision from the health-care overhaul bill or face legal action.
In the letter Corbett said, "The provision violates the most basic and universally held notions of fairness, and is inconsistent with protections against arbitrary legislation afforded by the Constitution."
Corbett, who last week began conducting a legal analysis of the constitutionality of the Nebraska amendment in the health care legislation, said he believes the provision is constitutionally flawed.
Corbett said that Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson secured this special provision for Nebraska in exchange for his support of the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act.
"The result of the Nebraska provision could have dire financial consequences for Pennsylvania taxpayers, forcing them to help offset the cost of Nebraska's Medicaid recipients," Corbett said. "The issue of equity and tax fairness should not be ignored, whether it is at the local, state or federal level."
Corbett noted that Medicaid expenses for Pennsylvania already total approximately $15 billion per year.
Corbett said he will continue to work with his colleagues across the country to explore all legal options challenging this provision if it is signed into law.
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Showing posts with label medicaid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label medicaid. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Medicare Report Confirms Health Care Takeover Plan is a Fiscal Disaster
/PRNewswire/ -- A new report released by the Medicare Chief Actuary, Richard Foster, and the Center for Medicaid Services, the federal agency that oversees Medicaid, says that the proposed health care overhaul plan will dramatically increase health care costs and senior citizens will suffer from Medicare cuts.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins made the following comments:
"The Medicare number crunchers are admitting what we've known all along - that this $2.5 trillion bill is a fiscal disaster that will dramatically raise costs and likely cut health care access for senior citizens.
"A spending spree of this magnitude will have consequences because our country doesn't have an unlimited supply of money. This sobering report alone should be enough to convince every Senator and Congressman to oppose this bill. In addition, this health care takeover will increase taxes by almost $500 billion, and further hurt job growth by imposing $28 billion in new taxes on employers.
"The Senate plan also takes a slap at married couples by imposing a marriage penalty on couples making more than $250,000 a year. Cohabiting couples, on the other hand, are free to make $200,000 each before getting slammed by the same tax. The marriage penalty strikes at the core strength of our country - the married family unit which is the greatest generator of human goods and social benefits to our nation."
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Family Research Council President Tony Perkins made the following comments:
"The Medicare number crunchers are admitting what we've known all along - that this $2.5 trillion bill is a fiscal disaster that will dramatically raise costs and likely cut health care access for senior citizens.
"A spending spree of this magnitude will have consequences because our country doesn't have an unlimited supply of money. This sobering report alone should be enough to convince every Senator and Congressman to oppose this bill. In addition, this health care takeover will increase taxes by almost $500 billion, and further hurt job growth by imposing $28 billion in new taxes on employers.
"The Senate plan also takes a slap at married couples by imposing a marriage penalty on couples making more than $250,000 a year. Cohabiting couples, on the other hand, are free to make $200,000 each before getting slammed by the same tax. The marriage penalty strikes at the core strength of our country - the married family unit which is the greatest generator of human goods and social benefits to our nation."
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Thursday, November 19, 2009
Health Insurance Reform Proposals Are a Bargain Not a Bust for Georgia
Leading health insurance reform proposals to expand Medicaid that are making their way through Congress not only could cover one million low-income Georgians, but will provide more than 90 percent of the funds to do so.
This is a win-win for all Georgians, as explained in the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute's latest analysis. Both Governor Perdue and Lt. Governor Cagle's have overstated the budget impact and neglected to state that the federal government is not only picking up most of Georgia's tab, but that local economies will benefit from the healthcare dollars as well as healthier citizens.
The governor and lieutenant governor are both using out-of-date cost estimates when stating that Georgia cannot afford the reform proposals to expand Medicaid. In addition, both fail to apply these basic principles to their analysis:
1) Participation will ramp up over a few years and cannot practically happen the first day the expansion takes effect.
2) Full participation in the expanded Medicaid program may never occur.
3) Federal dollars will pay the full cost for two to three years, and then 90 percent of it after that.
"There is plenty of time to ensure the state has adequate funds to provide coverage to the lowest-income Georgians without access to health insurance, since neither proposal starts for a few years," said Timothy Sweeney, the Institute's senior healthcare analyst, "and even when the law does go into effect, those eligible will sign-up over another several years, not all at once.
"Another reason that expanding Medicaid is a bargain not just for Georgia, but for all the states, is that in addition to getting its citizens covered, it injects millions of federal funds into local economies," said Sweeney, the report's author.
Georgian's needs are growing dramatically and the state's ability to meet them are shrinking. Georgia's uninsured rate is tenth in the nation. Roughly one in seven people lived in poverty in 2008, and our job loss rate is fifth in the nation. Vulnerable groups are hit hardest during recessions, and low-income workers are losing employer-sponsored health insurance faster than others.
The analysis also explains why both houses of Congress are choosing to expand Medicaid, and how each bill funds the expansion with federal funds.
The Georgia Department of Community Health is currently reworking their cost estimates based on current reform proposals that have been passed in Congress. "The state's highest leaders should use accurate numbers and not scare people into believing the state cannot afford to expand coverage to those with the least access to healthcare," said Alan Essig, the Institue's executive director.
"In fact they have it backwards, the state cannot afford not to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to insure its neediest citizens."
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This is a win-win for all Georgians, as explained in the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute's latest analysis. Both Governor Perdue and Lt. Governor Cagle's have overstated the budget impact and neglected to state that the federal government is not only picking up most of Georgia's tab, but that local economies will benefit from the healthcare dollars as well as healthier citizens.
The governor and lieutenant governor are both using out-of-date cost estimates when stating that Georgia cannot afford the reform proposals to expand Medicaid. In addition, both fail to apply these basic principles to their analysis:
1) Participation will ramp up over a few years and cannot practically happen the first day the expansion takes effect.
2) Full participation in the expanded Medicaid program may never occur.
3) Federal dollars will pay the full cost for two to three years, and then 90 percent of it after that.
"There is plenty of time to ensure the state has adequate funds to provide coverage to the lowest-income Georgians without access to health insurance, since neither proposal starts for a few years," said Timothy Sweeney, the Institute's senior healthcare analyst, "and even when the law does go into effect, those eligible will sign-up over another several years, not all at once.
"Another reason that expanding Medicaid is a bargain not just for Georgia, but for all the states, is that in addition to getting its citizens covered, it injects millions of federal funds into local economies," said Sweeney, the report's author.
Georgian's needs are growing dramatically and the state's ability to meet them are shrinking. Georgia's uninsured rate is tenth in the nation. Roughly one in seven people lived in poverty in 2008, and our job loss rate is fifth in the nation. Vulnerable groups are hit hardest during recessions, and low-income workers are losing employer-sponsored health insurance faster than others.
The analysis also explains why both houses of Congress are choosing to expand Medicaid, and how each bill funds the expansion with federal funds.
The Georgia Department of Community Health is currently reworking their cost estimates based on current reform proposals that have been passed in Congress. "The state's highest leaders should use accurate numbers and not scare people into believing the state cannot afford to expand coverage to those with the least access to healthcare," said Alan Essig, the Institue's executive director.
"In fact they have it backwards, the state cannot afford not to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to insure its neediest citizens."
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Thursday, November 5, 2009
RetireSafe Calls AARP's Support of House Bill the Greatest Fraud Against Seniors in the 21st Century
/PRNewswire/ -- In a statement released today, RetireSafe President Thair Phillips calls AARP's endorsement of the House health care bill the greatest fraud against seniors in the 21st century. He said, "AARP, easily the most influential seniors lobby, is using their clout to get a bill passed that will slash Medicare and ration the health care of seniors."
According to Phillips, it's a sham for AARP to throw its weight behind a bill most seniors do not support. He said, "AARP gets the major amount of its revenue from selling insurance and they DO have a dog in this fight. Instead of protecting their insurance coffers, AARP should be protecting the health of seniors, the very ones they are supposed to help."
Phillips contends that backing the 10-year, tax-hiking, $1.2 trillion House bill is a deceptive move for AARP, and its endorsement in today's highly politicized atmosphere will anger many of its members.
RetireSafe represents older Americans who are concerned about cuts in Medicare payments to medical providers. Visiting Congressional offices this week, the seniors' advocacy group is making a last ditch effort to impact the legislation. They met with senior advisors at the White House last month.
In a recent RetireSafe survey in their Listens campaign, over 1,500 older Americans expressed concern about the health care reform bill. Over half of the respondents, 60%, said there are not any groups who represent their interest in Washington; 93% said being able to choose the doctor they want is a top priority; while 64% felt having a public option was their lowest priority. RetireSafe launched the Listens campaign to give seniors across the country a chance to voice their strong opinions.
Phillips encourages older people looking for someone to turn to now, to visit RetireSafe's website at www.retiresafe.org, and get their voice heard and counted in the online survey.
According to Phillips, our leaders should listen to seniors as well as to common sense views of officials like Tennessee Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen, who was one of the governors who didn't sign a letter supporting the House bill. A former HMO executive, he has been perhaps the party's sharpest critic in the funding debate.
Said Phillips, "Gov. Bredesen, in an interview this September, called the potential expansion of Medicaid in health care reform 'the mother of all unfunded mandates... We can't print money. We can't borrow money. A lot of staffers in Congress really don't understand this idea of a balanced budget.' RetireSafe agrees."
With the help of AARP, House leaders may have the votes they need before the gavel falls Saturday. Said Phillips, "If so, older Americans are in for the sham of the century."
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According to Phillips, it's a sham for AARP to throw its weight behind a bill most seniors do not support. He said, "AARP gets the major amount of its revenue from selling insurance and they DO have a dog in this fight. Instead of protecting their insurance coffers, AARP should be protecting the health of seniors, the very ones they are supposed to help."
Phillips contends that backing the 10-year, tax-hiking, $1.2 trillion House bill is a deceptive move for AARP, and its endorsement in today's highly politicized atmosphere will anger many of its members.
RetireSafe represents older Americans who are concerned about cuts in Medicare payments to medical providers. Visiting Congressional offices this week, the seniors' advocacy group is making a last ditch effort to impact the legislation. They met with senior advisors at the White House last month.
In a recent RetireSafe survey in their Listens campaign, over 1,500 older Americans expressed concern about the health care reform bill. Over half of the respondents, 60%, said there are not any groups who represent their interest in Washington; 93% said being able to choose the doctor they want is a top priority; while 64% felt having a public option was their lowest priority. RetireSafe launched the Listens campaign to give seniors across the country a chance to voice their strong opinions.
Phillips encourages older people looking for someone to turn to now, to visit RetireSafe's website at www.retiresafe.org, and get their voice heard and counted in the online survey.
According to Phillips, our leaders should listen to seniors as well as to common sense views of officials like Tennessee Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen, who was one of the governors who didn't sign a letter supporting the House bill. A former HMO executive, he has been perhaps the party's sharpest critic in the funding debate.
Said Phillips, "Gov. Bredesen, in an interview this September, called the potential expansion of Medicaid in health care reform 'the mother of all unfunded mandates... We can't print money. We can't borrow money. A lot of staffers in Congress really don't understand this idea of a balanced budget.' RetireSafe agrees."
With the help of AARP, House leaders may have the votes they need before the gavel falls Saturday. Said Phillips, "If so, older Americans are in for the sham of the century."
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www.politicalpotluck.com
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