Posted on 03/07/2015 7:43:52 PM PST by balch3
Topeka — Gov. Sam Brownback suggested Wednesday that he might consider proposals to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, provided the Legislature can identify a way to pay for it.
"I’ve been pushing that anything we do on Medicaid expansion has to be 100-percent paid for," Brownback said during impromptu remarks to the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents, who met at the Statehouse on Wednesday.
Under the federal health law, also known as Obamacare, states are allowed to expand their Medicaid programs to cover all individuals in households with incomes up to 138 percent of the poverty level. That's about $16,243 a year for an individual, or $27,724 for a family of three.
During the first three years, the federal government pays 100 percent of the cost of covering those who become newly eligible under the expansion. That tapers down to 90 percent of the cost by 2020.
For the traditional group covered by Medicaid, the federal government pays only about 56 percent of the cost, while the state picks up the other 44 percent.
Kansas is currently one of only 14 states that has not adopted a plan to expand its Medicaid program.
Brownback's comments, which came in response to a question from one of the insurance agents, stood in stark contrast to his remarks on the campaign trail last year when he said he strongly opposed the federal health care law, also known as Obamacare, and criticized his Democratic opponent Paul Davis for supporting it.
"I haven’t said we’ll take it. I haven’t said we wouldn’t," Brownback said Wednesday. "Last year, I signed the bill that the Legislature passed (saying) that the Legislature had to approve any Medicaid expansion. I think that’s the way to go because it’s going to involve long-term costs. And the Legislature, that’s their primary authority."
His softened tone also came amid mounting pressure at the Statehouse from hospitals and other health care providers who want Kansas to take part in the expansion because it would mean additional reimbursements for them, offsetting losses they suffer from providing uncompensated care, as well as reduced reimbursements from Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly.
They also came as the Kansas House, responding to some of that same pressure, is preparing to hold hearings on at least two Medicaid expansion bills, including one being pushed by Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence, who chairs the House Vision 2020 Committee.
During his remarks, Brownback alluded to Sloan's bill, which would levy a fee on health care providers who receive Medicaid reimbursements. Those fees would be used to cover the state's 10 percent share of the cost.
Just what the regime is betting on and hoping for :(
Thanks, Sam....not.
This is why Obamacare isn’t going anywhere.
Full-term governor.
This is why Obamacare IS going somewhere, probably to a neighborhood near you.
Dammit Sam, keep firm, don’t succumb to the federal teat, and sign the Constitutional Carry bill.
So you're going to tax doctors 10 percent for taking the already low Medicare payments? How may doctors will be willing to take on new patients under that plan?
Did the house approve it?
“That’s it. Bribe everybody in sight, tell all the po’folks and “stakeholders” (bureaucratic tax-eaters, legislative appropriators, government contractors) alllll about it (Hey! EVERYBODY! FREE MONEY!) .... Then sit back like the Persian bribe-factors in 300 and wait for the Rot to do its work.”
Pretty much. Did I mention that the uniparty has been doing this for a long time? They’re very, very good at it.
‘....provided the Legislature can identify a way to pay for it...’
When/if it’s the Legislature paying for it, I can’t gripe. Unfortunately, it’s NEVER the Legislature paying, it’s the TAXPAYERS whom are robbed...to ‘pay for’ XYZ.
Maddening the initial question is never the correct one! IE: By what authority do we (the Legislature) have to steal...
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