I know all about that. No doubt, some smoking foster parents will use it in the ensuing lawsuits.
And no doubt, the state will have their guns loaded with stats proving medicaid expenses among smoking households are greater than in nonsmoking ones.
What you are overlooking is that medicaid comes with foster care. You didn't actually think medical care for foster children was at the foster parents' expense, did you?
Well of course not. I am fully aware the children have Medicaid. My post was in response to the fact everyone is still jumping on the second hand smoke bandwagon that, according to a Federal judge, never even existed.
Any foster parent smoking in a foster home after January 1st will be 'in violation' of their contractual agreement, but I doubt seriously children would be removed from an otherwise suitable home because of it. To my knowledge, there's not exactly a plethora of people lined up waiting to be foster parents.
The foster parent will probably be ticketed for being in violation (just like you would for smoking in any other public accommodation) and the state will get some of their money back.