Florida Opts Into Medicaid Expansion, Religious Leader, and 10 Year Data. Information Bulletin #373 (2/2013) This Information Bulletin deals with three aspects of the Medicaid expansion struggle: 1. Florida, 2. Religious leaders, and 3. Ten year data. 1.Another Republican Governor has announced his State will provide Medicaid services beginning January 2014 to all of its citizens with incomes under 138% of the federal poverty level. What should be a clear non-partisan issue, health care for the poorest people in a state, has unfortunately morphed into party politics. That’s one reason it is important that Florida’s Governor Rick Scott joined Republican Governors in Michigan, Ohio, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota and Arizona. Governor Scott had said quite emphatically that “Florida would not expand its program.” Why the reversal? What makes Governor Scott’s announcement particularly important is that he understood two points that many non-participating Governors apparently have ignored. First, Governor Scott said that “our options are either having Floridians pay to fund [Medicaid expansion] in other states while denying health care to our citizens or using federal funding to help some of the poorest in our state.” NYT, 2/20/13. Yes, if your State does not opt-in, your State’s taxpayers will be paying for health care for low-income people in participating States that have agreed to the Medicaid expansion. That’s neither a very smart business decision nor a sound policy decision. Second, “since Florida is legally allowed to opt out [of Medicaid expansion in the future], that’s the right decision for our citizens.” Yes, CMS has stated that a State that provides Medicaid expansion services can at any time decide to end its participation and there are no repercussions. Have you contacted your Governor? Will other Governors see the importance of these two points for their States? Will advocates follow the Florida advocates’ success? 2. Religious leaders are realizing the moral implications in Medicaid expansion. For example, the “Roman Catholic bishops of Salt Lake City and Little Rock, Ark., have urged state officials to expand Medicaid. “ NYT, 222/13. Sorry to add another item to your plates, but have you contacted religious leaders in your State? Are they doing anything to encourage recalcitrant elected officials to do the right and smart thing? 3. A separate third Medicaid expansion issue. In previous Information Bulletins and individual State Fact Sheets, we have provided (thanks to the Kaiser Commission) six year out data from 2014 through 2019 to show the amount of federal funds would be received by Medicaid expansion and the amount of money a State would have to spend as a match over the six years. A number of States are now arguing a longer time-frame, and they are suggesting/implying that over a longer than six years the federal funds may not be worth receiving. Therefore, we will provide for a period through 2022 (again thanks to Kaiser Commission) data for those states that have still not opted in to the Medicaid expansion. The results are the same as for six years. States make out like bandits!!!!! No business person in her or his right mind would turn down accepting the federal funds for the amount they must match over a ten year period. It makes no business sense. Isn’t it time that politics be put aside and rational business decisions take over? INCREMENTAL IMPACT OF MEDICAID EXPANSION 2013-2022 Federal funds and state matches over 10 years. Alabama $14,371 billion of federal funds with only a $1,081 billion Alabama state match. Alaska $1,458 billion of federal funds with only a $147 million Alaska state match. Arkansas $12,465 billion of federal funds with only a $922 million Arkansas state match. Georgia 33,711 billion of federal funds with only a $2,541 billion Georgia state match. Idaho $3,280 billion of federal funds with only a $246 million Idaho state match. Indiana $17,322 billion of federal funds with only a $1,099 billion In Diana state match. Iowa $3,909 billion of federal funds AND a $534 savings in Iowa state funds!!!!! Kansas $5,270 billion of federal funds with only a $524 million Kansas state match. Kentucky $17,832 billion of federal funds with only a $1,297 billion Kentucky state match. Louisiana $15,786 billion of federal funds with only a $1,244 billion Louisiana state match. Maine $3,124 billion of federal funds AND a $570 million savings in Maine state funds!!!. Mississippi $14,499 billion of federal funds with only a $1,048 billion Mississippi state match. Missouri $17,795 billion of federal funds with only a $1,573 billion Missouri state match. Nebraska $3,063 billion of federal funds with only a $250 million Nebraska state match. New Jersey $15,366 billion of federal funds with only a $1,492 billion New Jersey state match. North Carolina $39,638 billion of federal funds with only a $3,075 billion North Carolina state match. Oklahoma $8,561 billion of federal funds with only a $689 million Oklahoma state match. Pennsylvania $37,842 billion of federal funds with only a $2,842 billion Pennsylvania state match. Rhode Island $2,935 billion of federal funds with only a $250 million Rhode Island state match. South Carolina $15,827 billion of federal funds with only a $1,155 billion South Carolina state match. Soth Dakota $2,110 billion of federal funds with only a $157 million South Dakota state match. Tennessee $22,541 billion of federal funds with only a $1,715 billion Tennessee state match. Texas $65,619 billion of federal funds with only a $5,669 billion Texas state match. Utah $5,274 billion of federal funds with only a $364 million Utah state match. Virginia $14,665 billion of federal funds with only a $1,326 billion Virginia state match. West Virginia $8,744 billion of federal funds with only a $619 million West Virginia state match. Wisconsin $12,263 billion of federal funds AND a $248 million savings in Wisconsin state match!!!! Wyoming $1,353 billion of federal funds with only a $118 million Wyoming state match. Ten year data from Kaiser Commission, “The Cost and Coverage Implications of the ACA Medicaid Expansion: National and State-by-State Analysis,” at Table 6 (November, 2012). Steve Gold, The Disability Odyssey continues Back issues of other Information Bulletins are available online at http://www.stevegoldada.com with a searchable Archive at this site divided into different subjects. Information Bulletins will also be posted on my blog located at http://stevegoldada.blogspot.com/ To contact Steve Gold directly, write to stevegoldada1@gmail.com or call 215-627-7100. Ext 227.