Lose weight, quit smoking or lose Medicaid benefits?

The Palm Beach Post ^ | February 18, 2011 | Dara Kam

[Eric Blair 2084]

Sen. Joe Negron wants fat Floridians and smokers to get healthy or else.

Included in Negron’s revamp of the state-federal Medicaid program – which Negron will release tomorrow – is a component aimed at what senators are calling “personal responsibility.”

Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who helped craft Negron’s bill, said Medicaid patients have to take control of their health care just as he had to do when his doctor told him to lose weight.

“We’re saying that an individual who’s been diagnosed as morbidly obese needs to be on a medically-directed program of weight loss to manage that health care problem that could turn into an increased taxpayer liability. The same thing with smokers,” Gaetz said.

The bill would require smokers and alcoholics and drug addicts to get treatment, Gaetz said.

Negron said his bill would include incentives for Medicaid patients to lose weight, quit smoking and stop drinking but did not give details about what they would be.

If they don’t get thinner and put down the smokes, Negron said their coverage could be cut off.

[Eric Blair 2084]

This is the end result of socialism and collectivism.

After all, if your fellow citizens are paying for your healthcare, isn't it the elected public serpents job to intervene and save the taxpayer money?

Thats the rationale.

[Fu-fu2]

No surprise.

[traditional1]

How about random drug testing of Public Benefit recipients, including food stamps, welfare, Medicaid, etc.?

That would sure reduce the drain on taxpayers, for sure.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Hey, moron! What about the fagolae and spreading AIDS? That’s a choice too.

[HiTech RedNeck]

A gummit big enough to give you what you want today is big enough to take it all away tomorrow.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Big Brother, Nanny State, Grant Junkie, Bogus Study, Junk Science, Social Engineering, Egalitarian, Central Planning, Sheeple Control, Food Cop, Smoke Nazi, Socialism, Collectivism

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We the People Sheeple of the United States Nanny State, in Order to form a more perfect Union Socialist Utopia, establish Justice Socially engineer a country of non smoking, physically fit, seat belt and helmet wearing teetotalers, ensure domestic Tranquility Smoking bans in bars, limits on unhealthy food and social drinking, provide for the common defense Universal Healthcare, promote the general Welfare health of the population whether they like it or not, in order to save above mentioned Universal Healthcare entitlement program from bankruptcy, and secure the Blessings of Liberty Dependency to ourselves progressive liberals and our Posterity Hitler Youth who we brainwash through public school education, do ordain decree and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Nanny State of Liberals.

[Boardwalk]

This sounds like something Michelle and Barak can get behind. She pretends he doesn’t smoke and he pretends.

[traditional1]

I expect the same kind of treatment will evolve under Obamacare, too. Lifestyle choices that put you at risk are okay (drugs, faggots, etc., because you’re the Socialist voterbase). But if you’re a white heterosexual or Senior Citizen, you’re healthcare will be minimalized.

[kristinn]

Smokers tried to tell the fatties they’d be next.

[sockmonkey]

I am sure they will also tell all person’s who engage in high risk personal behavior (male homosexuals )that they must refrain from activities such as unprotected sodomy as this can transmit diseases which are much more expensive to treat than obesity or high blood pressure. /s

[Bronzy]

Joe Negron, Republican candidate for Florida Senate, District 28.

This is not what we vote Republicans to do. Cut government, cut taxes and stay out of our lives.

[TheBattman]

How about starting with stuff that is ILLEGAL... give folks the boot if they are doing illicit drugs...

[Boardwalk]

Homo is ok and to be enouraged. This is the administration we have inherited.

[Roccus]

Smokers tried to tell the fatties they’d be next.

Yup! Now I've quit smoking........but I got fat!

[Husker24]

You know there is probably a “study” that correlates gun ownership with a slightly increased chance of accidental death or injury.

[Walts Ice Pick]

I don’t believe in any kind of government health care, but if a person asks for social welfare benefits, whether they be Medicare or Medicaid benefits, then they should be prepared to make the changes required to reduce the cost to taxpayers. If we would just agree to get the government out of health care, period, these kind of problems would not arise.

[peggybac]

Everyone get healthy and live years and years longer. Then what will they do when they say there is no money? Just like hiking taxes on cigs - people will quit then no money will come into the coffers.

[Bronzy]

You are right. Onward government soldiers. Attack the fat! When they came after me, you did not say anything.

[Leader_Of_The _Conservatives]

if you are living on the govt teat- you have no rights concerning your behavior when you become a drain on society. The same ahould be done to people on medicare

[Chickensoup]

same thing at work. they encourage you to sign up for a wellness plan and will give you a month’s healthcare premium for free. then they have access to all your healthcare info and work with you to get healthy.