Deal: No Medicaid expansion for Georgia
TAMPA — Firming up his earlier stance, Gov. Nathan Deal said Tuesday he “would not have any intention” of expanding Georgia’s Medicaid rolls with federal money from Obamacare.
The expansion to cover anyone who earns one-third more than the federal poverty level, which the law made virtually mandatory by threatening to withhold current Medicaid funds from states that did not cooperate, became optional thanks to a Supreme Court ruling this summer that said Congress had overstepped its bounds in making such a coercive threat. Immediately after the court issued its ruling, Deal said he would wait until November to decide about the expansion, under which the feds would foot 100 percent of the cost of expansion from 2014 to 2016 and less in the years after that.
Tuesday morning in Tampa, during an interview with the AJC, 11 Alive and Politico, he indicated the expansion is off the table:
No, I do not have any intentions of expanding Medicaid. I think that is something our state cannot afford. And even though the federal government promises to pay 100 percent for the first three years and 90 percent thereafter, I think it is probably unrealistic to expect that promise to be fulfilled in the long term, simply because of the financial status that the federal government is in. I am told that that expansion for the federal government will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 billion a year. I quite honestly don’t think Congress can find an extra $100 billion a year.
Asked whether this was a change of heart, he replied:
I think for the time being, assuming that things are as they currently are, I would not have any intention of advocating expanding our Medicaid rolls. The reason for saying wait until November is to see whether or not there are going to be legislative changes at the federal level. And we do have a time frame for making the decision that I think, especially on the exchanges, we have just a few days after the election in order to make a final determination on that.
What kind of changes might prompt a reconsideration? “I can’t think of any right now that would induce me to say that we’re going expand our Medicaid population up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level,” he said, adding that the most recent cost estimate puts the state’s portion of the cost at $4.5 billion over a 10-year period.
“We obviously do not have that kind of money,” he said.
One way the state might be able to change its coverage provisions would be if Washington were to change Medicaid into a program where it sends a chunk of money to Georgia and lets the state decide how best to use it. This “block grant” approach was used in the 1990s welfare reform to good effect, and GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan has proposed just such a change for Medicaid.
Deal sounded very supportive of doing so:
I think there are a lot of things in terms of reimbursement rates, in terms of coverage, if a block grant were given to our state, that we could tailor the program to what we think is most appropriate. As you know, it is pretty much a one-size-fits-all [program]. We [in Georgia] are in one of the more modest Medicaid programs in the country. Those states that have seen fit to expand their Medicaid populations, quite honestly I don’t understand how they’re affording it in this downturned economy.
So, what we would have in mind is it would give us the opportunity to design the program as we think is appropriate. We would be trying to find as much efficiency as possible, and perhaps to provide coverage for areas that we currently know are very expensive to us. The aged, blind and disabled category of course is the largest expense category of our Medicaid population, and we think we might be able to come up with some innovative ways to serve that population better and at the same time save money.
Deal was set to return to Georgia this afternoon.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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258 comments Add your comment
yuzeyurbrane
August 28th, 2012
4:07 pm
Tiberius–if you are referring to my previous comment on Ga. Constitution, I stated, correctly, that public education is a state responsibility. I have read that text several times in comments on subject of Deal advocated constitutional amendment to approve state funded charter schools (which by the way, would cost state additional $400 million per Republican State School Superintendent Barge). I did not say Constitution says there must be health insurance or even healthcare but I am reasonably certain it gives legislature general power to promote the health and welfare of all Georgians. You can research yourself and tell me if I am wrong.
JB
August 28th, 2012
4:11 pm
The root problem at hand is still not solved – the millions of uninsured Georgians who cannot afford decent health insurance. I have yet to hear a plausible solution for that from Deal – he just ignores it, because he knows his base does not care about “those” people, their fellow citizens. And we COULD afford it if taxes were raised to reflect the actual need out there. And gawd help us if Medicaid is turned into block grants – I see that $ going straight to the GA “economic development” (read: massively expensive and gratuitous business tax breaks) before that ever reaches actual people in need, just like the foreclosure settlement money.
Darwin
August 28th, 2012
4:12 pm
I think we should just allow the uninsured to use our hospitals and medical services for free.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 28th, 2012
4:13 pm
yuzeyurbrane, you correctly pointed out education, but if you are going to insist on the state providing health care, then you must also find the passage which allows for it.
As has been correctly argued before, “promote” does not mean “provide”.
Even in a liberal dictionary.
David C
August 28th, 2012
4:13 pm
“One way the state might be able to change its coverage provisions would be if Washington were to change Medicaid into a program where it sends a chunk of money to Georgia and lets the state decide how best to use it.”
If Washington were to send a chunk of money to GA and let the state decide how best to use it, I would have ABSOLUTELY NOT FAITH in our State Government on how they handle that money. It would not go to where it should.
gadem
August 28th, 2012
4:19 pm
take the money and increase taxes by a penny to help cover the cost…
YOU BEEN BAMBOOZLED AND ITS YOUR FAULT
August 28th, 2012
4:24 pm
The aged, blind and disabled category of course is the largest expense category of our Medicaid population.
NO SOUP FOR YOU!
Darwin
August 28th, 2012
4:25 pm
Tiberius refuses to accept the fact that the insured and those who pay taxes currently provide healthcare to the uninsured.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 28th, 2012
4:26 pm
Fixing the health care system is very, very important to the Republican platform committee, but the key to fixing it isn’t by allowing more people to use a more efficient, government-run program or by regulating the private sector; according to the platform, all of our problems will be solved if only we relied nearly exclusively on profit-driven private sector businesses to fix everything — Atlas drugged, if you will. But before you say “Isn’t that exactly like how things are now?” take a second to shut your mouth and open your mind. We all know that the corporations always act like compassionate entities, and that all health care industry shenanigans can be blamed on too much regulation. Plus, you know what they say about problems — the best way to fix them is to do what you were doing before, but harder. Works for joint repair therapy, works for public health!
Further, the platform states, sick people need to take a moment and examine if their health problems are their own fault. From a draft of the platform leaked Friday, When approximately 80% of healthcare costs are related to lifestyle — smoking, obesity, substance abuse — far greater emphasis has to be put on personal responsibility for health maintenance. Translation: This country has devolved into a nation of fat drug addicts who smoke like chimneys. If you worked on the wait staff of a bar or restaurant that allowed smoking, it’s your fault when you get lung cancer. And if you develop Type II diabetes as an adult, it’s because you’re weak. You shouldn’t have grown up in that town next to a coal mine and gotten cancer when you were 7, you bad lifestyle choice maker. They say that this will introduce competition, and drive prices down. Except health care isn’t like an iPad or velour pants; it’s something that people literally need to stay alive. Really, the sky’s the limit for how expensive this *&^$ can get.
alternet.org
Ol'Timer
August 28th, 2012
4:27 pm
Enter your comments here
Ol'Timer
August 28th, 2012
4:29 pm
A lot of needy people are going to be thrown under the bus — kicked to the curb — so that the governator can pander to his base.
yuzeyurbrane
August 28th, 2012
4:30 pm
Tiberius, I read your link to the charity article and it was quite interesting. But I don’t see where the article contradicts what I stated: namely that I have seen data which shows non-Christians (to be particular, Jews) make a large disproportionate share of charitable donations. To be fair, the article also backs up your statement. How the seeming disparity? It is because the author defines terms rather artificially into religious, secular and partial. Perhaps the categories are OK but his defn. of each seems to be rather arbitrary. Also, he goes strictly by what percent of each category give something, never really quantifying it by dollar amount. It is amazing what a smart man, like the author, can do to prove a point with statistics. Anyway, I think it is fair to conclude we could both be right.
As to your comment on the state Constitution, based on another comment you made, you inaccurately state that a state Constitution can only be a limiting document. It is well established law that a Constitution certainly can establish broad authority for government to act in different areas but that it is up to the legislature to fill this in with specific legislation. In fact, with Medicaid and many other areas, I am oversimplifying it a bit since the concept of Federalism and joint Federal and state action comes into play. Suffice it to say, that Georgia may legally choose to participate or not to participate in expanding Medicaid to the working poor as part of Obamacare.
Gimme Gimme Gimme
August 28th, 2012
4:34 pm
Finn-
A human life is a terrible thing to waste on a blog. Just sayin.
Dusty
August 28th, 2012
4:34 pm
Will those who want to preach political religion please start off by telling us what church, faith, clan, shrine, temple, mosque or hall in which you participate?.
It might make your comments a little more believable. Right now it sounds like a bunch of blowhards trying to ridicule any religion, with Christians in particular.
What a sad thing here in America, which is so blessed and founded by people of faith. .
.
Centrist
August 28th, 2012
4:35 pm
Irresponsible states adding even more benefits via the federal government which doesn’t attempt to balance its budget while heaping on debt to future generations is not the answer. The poor in the U.S. are richer than the poor in entire world, thanks to taxpayers and added debt. There must be a limit, or Greece like implosion will be the result.
Individual states like Georgia have to balance their budgets, so if more benefits are given to the poor to let them live like middle class workers – it comes at the cost of cutting from somewhere else and/or taking more away from the producers. Liberals always suggest the latter thinking the golden goose is real. Thank goodness the Georgia electorate has emphatically rejected liberal philosophy.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 28th, 2012
4:37 pm
A human life is a terrible thing to waste on a blog. Just sayin.
Ummm, it’s called multitasking. Look it up.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 28th, 2012
4:37 pm
“Tiberius refuses to accept the fact that the insured and those who pay taxes currently provide healthcare to the uninsured.”
Actually, Darwin, there is nothing in my posts to suggest anything in your comment. That is simply uninformed projection on your part.
thwg
August 28th, 2012
4:38 pm
this state is at the bottom of the totem pole. Thank goodness for MS and LA. Not only are the politicians like Deal running the state for their own self interest, the uneducated, financially challenged rednecks in this state continue to vote them in and against their own self interest. I’m just glad to be a rich liberal who like Romney, can utilize the system to my own advantage. But I do appreciate these destitute conservative tea partiers since someone has to serve me at restaurants and restock the shelves Kroger.
Just Saying..
August 28th, 2012
4:38 pm
No surprise that a business man with Deal’s financial history can’t figure out how other states are affording it…
S
August 28th, 2012
4:40 pm
What else can we expect from an ethically challenged fool that was forced out of his job in Washington. No thinking person will be voting for these selfish, greedy, ungodly Republicans this year.
thwg
August 28th, 2012
4:40 pm
And as a business person, it’s easy to see how Deal’s decisions will continue to move this state down the list of desirable states for business development. I can remember when Atlanta was a hot bed of interest. Now, it’s an afterthought for venture investment. Who would want to invest in a state with such disregard for it’s own well being.
thwg
August 28th, 2012
4:42 pm
Good point S. Can you even imagine any other venue besides politics, where someone with clear ethics violoations gets elected gov. What does that say about the populace of this state. Next thing we’ll vote Marian Barry in as mayor atlanta.
wallbanger
August 28th, 2012
4:42 pm
Gov. Deal, a rare politician. He doesn’t want to spend money he doesn’t have.
Sherman
August 28th, 2012
4:44 pm
Dusty
Within the rules of the blog, everyone is welcome to their opinion be it right, wrong or indifferent.
Your is not the only one, however in your last post you were being quite the hypocrite by basically doing the same thing you claimed others were doing.
Correction
August 28th, 2012
4:45 pm
“Gov. Deal, a rare politician. He doesn’t want to spend money he doesn’t have.”
Unless it’s on a sporting goods store in the middle of nowhere.
Dusty
August 28th, 2012
4:46 pm
ho hum……….
Deal is a good governor.
Georgia is a great state.
SouthWest is ready when you are.
mo money
August 28th, 2012
4:48 pm
Ah, the taxes answer. So what yet to be approved tax increase shall we make up? How about an extra $100 a month/unit on multi family dwellings? A few more percentage points on check cashing? tax churches? 10 bucks per swipe on EBT cards? Increase marta fares? Liquor tax? Wait, I’ve got it, we’ll just create a hospital tax like the hotel tax, that will do it. Problem solved Finn, you’re a genius. .
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 28th, 2012
4:50 pm
“Suffice it to say, that Georgia may legally choose to participate or not to participate in expanding Medicaid to the working poor as part of Obamacare.”
Nice deflection, yuzyurebrane, but that isn’t the question before us. That question was, “Where in the Georgia Constitution is the authority to provide health care?”, not whether expanding Medicaid coverage is Constitutional. There are any number of posters who feel that it is the role of this state to provide same, however, none (including you), can provide the Constitutional authority to do so.
At some point, rather than trying to wrongly justify your position on this issue, the best, and most efficient thing to do is just say, “You’re right, Tiberius”.
Sherman
August 28th, 2012
4:52 pm
The US is a great country
If you do not like Obama
Delta is ready when you are. They have the most international flights of any US carrier
Bye bye
Follow the Law
August 28th, 2012
4:52 pm
One of the major reasons that our medical system is so dis-functional is that care is provided that can not pay for it so others are expected to indirectly pay for it. Here we have the Federal Government helping us out with this issue to some extent for some period of time but we refuse to take the money. Would a block grant be better, yes. But that does not seem to be an option. So, not taking 90% – 100% of the funds necessary to cover the needs of a significant sector of society with needed health care seems to be a poor decision. The State can make it very clear that if and when the Fed stops paying, the GA rules will revert to the older rules so less would be covered at that point. So, the government is afraid its citizens will be upset if it reduces the number of people who qualify if the government stops keeping its end of the bargain, well that is called having a spine. It can be done and to simply leave these significant funds on the table could end up being a very poor decision unless the goal is to have the poor move out of the state to one that takes the federal government’s deal.
Dusty
August 28th, 2012
4:52 pm
Sherman,
Go burn a city somewhere.
And stop crying. It’s pitiful.
Just Saying..
August 28th, 2012
4:53 pm
“Georgia is a great state.”
Based on…?
Compared to…?
Sherman
August 28th, 2012
4:54 pm
Ho Hum
Rosa Hatten
August 28th, 2012
4:54 pm
Let’s vote this loser Governor out of office,he would have stole enough of the State’s money by then,they are all liars and crooks.
Sherman
August 28th, 2012
4:55 pm
Dusty
Put your floaties on. It is two ft deep and that is way past your limit.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 28th, 2012
4:56 pm
I find it amazing that people like Sherman who want to continue to accelerate this county’s decline by constantly changing it, are the first people to tell those of us who wish to return this nation to it’s greatness to get up and leave.
Pitiful.
Sherman
August 28th, 2012
4:58 pm
As for crying, it is you who initiated the you can leave bs, because you are so myopic that you do not have the aptitude and ability to see past your nose…….
Any opinion that doesn’t fit your narrow narrative gets you all worked up, so you start biting at people’s ankles to show your discontent and usual pouting ways
But do carry on
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 28th, 2012
4:58 pm
ho hum……….
Deal is a good governor.
Georgia is a great state.
Thats about last in education.
Most people that say that have never been out of the state.Or at least the South.
Sherman
August 28th, 2012
4:59 pm
Tiberius
Are you being a a dumb @ss or can you show my exact post with all these things I want changed?
Thought so, run along with your projections, implications and innuendos
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 28th, 2012
5:01 pm
are the first people to tell those of us who wish to return this nation to it’s greatness to get up and leave.
What greatness is that ? Bush
Back to the sixties when minorities knew their place?
td
August 28th, 2012
5:02 pm
yuzeyurbrane
August 28th, 2012
3:51 pm
td–what do you think is the job of state govt.? Historically, most of the Georgia state budget has always gone towards education and health. So, your 70% figure, which I will accept as accurate for the sake of argument only, is not a new phenomenon. Public education is even in our state Constitution. Same functions of state govt. goes for other states, too. Sorry JF McNamara, I violated my own advice about trying to use facts and reason with likes of td. My bad. I am sure td will respond in expected fashion. Oh well, hope springs eternal.
You restated my point but still did not answer the original question. Where is the money going to come from? What are you going to cut or who are you going to tax more and how much?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 28th, 2012
5:02 pm
Thats about last in edumacation.
fixed yer typo…
curious
August 28th, 2012
5:04 pm
Enter your comments here
td
August 28th, 2012
5:05 pm
JB
August 28th, 2012
4:11 pm
“The root problem at hand is still not solved – the millions of uninsured Georgians who cannot afford decent health insurance.”
Who says they can not afford insurance? What sacrifices have they made to afford insurance? Cable TV, internet and cell phone bill every month will afford a very nice policy.
YOU BEEN BAMBOOZLED AND ITS YOUR FAULT
August 28th, 2012
5:05 pm
@Centrist
August 28th, 2012
4:35 pm
Liberals always suggest the latter thinking the golden goose is real. Thank goodness the Georgia electorate has emphatically rejected liberal philosophy.
***************************************************************************************************
DEAL DID NOT SAY NO MEDICAID FOR THE LIBERALS ONLY.
HE SAID NO MEDICAID FOR CONS, WHITES, BLACKS, BLUES, GREENS,
HISPANICS, YOUR MAMA, HIS MAMA, NOBODY.
THE GEORGIA ELECTORATE HAS REJECTED EVERYONE……:)
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 28th, 2012
5:07 pm
THAT DOESNT MAKE ANY SENSE
WHEN YOU TYPE ALL CAPS IT DOENST MAKE YOUR POINT ANY BETTER.
concerned
August 28th, 2012
5:07 pm
So easy to turn down help for others when all your medical need, those of your family here and to come are being met. Georgia is so ignorant in logic. In order to make a President look bad or unqualified, let all of georgia suffer. Gov. Deal you need to seek guidance from God about how to treat people. It is not about who is president, or his/her party it is ALL ABOUT GOD’S PEOPLE AND OUR NEEDS.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 28th, 2012
5:07 pm
You were bushwacked and its all your fault
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 28th, 2012
5:08 pm
Deal is just talking a big game. When it comes time to take the money, his hands will both be out.
Tag
August 28th, 2012
5:08 pm
I want free health care, food, housing and transportation.
I can get my cloths at the Salvation Army.