Bentley Rejects Health Exchanges, Medicaid Expansion
Gov. Bentley Rejects Key Provisions of Affordable Care Act
Alabama is joining a growing list of states that will not set up an insurance exchange under the federal health care law. Governor Robert Bentley announced yesterday he will not authorize the state-based exchange. He cites cost, saying it would create a tax burden of up to $50 million dollars. He also announced he will not expand Medicaid because the state can’t afford it.
The Affordable Care Act requires state insurance exchanges (read an explainer from NPR’s Julie Rovner here). If a state refuses to set one up, the federal government will do it for them. Some observers say its ironic and risky that so many republican governors are essentially handing over control of the state health care exchanges to the federal government. But Washington Post health policy reporter Sarah Kliff argues republican governors may be “making a very smart decision that could ultimately strengthen the Affordable Care Act rather than detract from it.”
The Medicaid expansion is optional and would have been almost completely paid for by the federal government. The Kaiser Family Foundation says more than 350,000 low income Alabamians who currently don’t have health insurance would have been added to the Medicaid rolls under the expansion. The Urban Institute estimates the Medicaid expansion would have pumped $10 billion federal dollars into Alabama’s economy over the next 6 years. Alabama Arise, a statewide coalition that advocates for low-income residents, says the Governor’s decision is a major blow to the state’s health care system and overall economy.
House Minority leader Craig Ford also criticized the governor’s decision. The Gadsden Democrat says the governor “is playing politics and wants to appear like he’s fighting Obamacare, when all he has really done is turn over these crucial decisions to the federal government and lost an opportunity to get back tax dollars.”
Bill Armistead, Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, commended Gov. Bentley for his decision.
“The voters in Alabama have spoken loud and clear in sending Barack Obama a message that we do not like his liberal policies and I am glad to stand with Governor Bentley in opposing ObamaCare here in Alabama,” said Armistead.
In related news, Nov 12 – 16 is Rural Health Week in Alabama. According to the Alabama Rural Health Association there are severe shortages of health care providers in Alabama. There are 67 counties in state. Of those, 55 are considered rural. And all of them have shortages of dental and mental health care. More than half of the rural counties in the state don’t have hospitals that deliver babies. And seventeen don’t have a dialysis clinic. The ARHA says health care shortages make it difficult to recruit industry and jobs to rural Alabama.
Trump administration says it’s freezing child care funds to Minnesota
President Trump's administration announced that it's freezing child care funds to Minnesota after a series of fraud schemes in recent years.
Flu cases are surging and rates will likely get worse, new CDC data shows
Flu season is off to a rough start this year, according to new CDC data. The virus is spreading faster than in previous years and the surge is likely to get worse. Here's what you need to know.
Judge orders Trump administration to continue to seek funding for the CFPB
The order is the latest in a complex legal battle over the fate of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a watchdog agency.
In a year of steep challenges, there were still shining moments in global health
The Trump administration's deep cuts in U.S. foreign health aid had a devastating impact. Yet there were achievements of note in spite of it all.
An escalation in Yemen threatens to reignite civil war and widen tensions in the Gulf
Saudi Arabia bombed Yemen's port city of Mukalla, targeting a shipment of weapons from the United Arab Emirates for separatist forces. The UAE later said it would withdraw its forces from Yemen.
What being around death taught this hospital chaplain about life
J.S. Park helps patients and their families cope with death every day as a hospital chaplain. He explains what to expect as a person is dying, and how to reckon with uncomfortable feelings about death.
