The Importance Of Medicaid In Texas

Critically analyze the implications of the state’s decision to opt out of Medicaid expansion on the citizens of the state.

Medicaid is a social health care program that covers nearly 60 million Americans, including children, pregnant women, seniors, parents and individuals suffering with disabilities. Medicaid is the biggest source of funding for health related services and medical needs for the people with low income in the United States. This program is funded jointly by the state and federal level governments, but it is the state’s responsibility to manage this program. The Medicaid program is not a required program that states have to use, but all 50 states have implemented this program. With the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and its passing in 2010, the ACA unveiled its plans to expand Medicaid eligibility to nearly all low-income adults as an addition to the other groups that fall into the Medicaid eligibility. The Medicaid program had “many gaps in coverage for adults” because it was only restricted to the low income individuals and other people with needs in their own specific category. In the past, the majority of the states who had adults that did not have children dependent on those parents were not eligible for Medicaid. These low income adults without dependent children would be without medical insurance assistance before the ACA was introduced. Medicaid is now available to all Americans under the age of 65 whose family income is at or below the federal poverty guideline of “133 percent or $14,484 for an individual and $29,726 for a family of four in 2011” (NSCL).

Texas, which currently has a large uninsured population and limited Medicaid eligibility, forfeits billions of dollars from the federal government every year by not expanding its Medicaid program as implemented in the Affordable Care Act. In contrast, Medicaid expansion could benefit the state exponentially and give its citizens the fullest potential of what this country offers. A substantial amount of federal funding that could increase uninsured coverage, improve healthcare costs, and provide economic stimulus is left on the table. Additionally, the nation benefits when each state participates, contributing to the success of the healthcare reform.

Close to half of each dollar spent on healthcare is inefficiently used both at a clinical and administrative level. Three other areas that funds are not appropriately in are insurer overhead and profit and over priced pharmaceuticals. Projected figures for the first year estimate that just in administrative costs alone the citizenry should see approximately twenty billion dollars worth of savings in the first year. Another area that will put approximately $5.2 billion dollars back into the budget will be that this program will allow the state purchasing power for mass quantity pharmaceuticals and durable equipment. Finally by increasing the emphasis on preventative care and making a primary care physician available to all will add another $3.4 billion. Last but definitely not least, it is estimated that this bill will dramatically reduce fraud approximately $800 billion dollars in healthcare spending. Total savings for the first year are projected to be approximately $29 billion dollars. The projected plan is to use this money for the purpose of providing healthcare to the populous that is currently without health insurance. With these savings and more efficient use of funds all residents will have comprehensive healthcare that at this point was leaving twelve million without it as well as not increase spending (Amaro

That mostly depends on our Presidential election in November. If a Republican wins office they could option not to enforce the act or overturn it during Legislative session. As long as Governor Perry is in office, there will be no expansion of Medicaid until at least 2014. Since, Governor Perry is not expanding the Medicaid system, as a state will need to prepare for higher insurance premiums to cover the costs that Medicaid does not. The state will need to revamp the state Medicaid system because our population is rising higher than the cost of healthcare. As of December of 2011 total enrollment in Medicaid was 3,652,591. This cost the state of Texas 12.8 billion dollars, paid for by our taxpayers. As our state population increases it is estimated 1.2 million newly eligible Texans for Medicaid, and by 2019 it will cost the state and additional 5.3 billion in taxes (Texas Health and Human Services Commission, 2012).

Eligibility for Medicaid expanded to groups like childless parents, all children and other parents not entitled to the Medicaid. To kick start this reform, the state would cover the whole cost for the non-eligible population for a period until they can cover the costs. Enrolment to the Medicaid made easy through websites and those who are disabled would get care in the community.

Throughout the early 1980’s and 1990’s the Federal Medicaid program was challenged by rapidly rising Medicaid program costs and an increasing number of uninsured population. One of the primary reasons for the overall increase in healthcare costs is the

The state of Texas has pulled its Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, leaving poor residents with few options for affordable healthcare. Medicaid, a program focused on helping low-income families and individuals receive healthcare, has always been jointly operated by the state and the federal government. But to who this program would be eligible for is entirely up to the state. More conservative states, like Texas for example, strictly reserve Medicaid for only the most severe cases of poverty-stricken families, leaving a large portion of low-income residents uninsured. The Affordable Care Act, a federally mandated reform of Medicaid introduced by President Obama, would provide healthcare for many American citizens in need. Despite being

Expanding Medicaid under the new Affordable Care Act, or Obama Care as it has been dubbed, is a serious issue affecting not only the 47.5 million citizens on it according the to the U.S. Census Bureau (2012), but also 5.7 million more struggling United States Citizens needing medical care (2014). By expanding Medicaid, it would mean access to affordable health insurance, preventative care and new jobs created. On An 6-3 decision, those incomparable court upheld a discriminating some piece of the moderate mind Act, memorable human services change that the President marked under theory five a considerable length of time agnus dei. Now, a large number about Americans who got secured over wellbeing protection marketplaces could sit tight

In 2010, the President of the United States signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) into law (Luther & Hart, 2014). As written, the PPACA will be the most extensive change in the financing and provision of healthcare in 50 years (Luther & Hart, 2014). The stated purposes of the legislation are to decrease the number of medically uninsured people as well as decrease the cost of insurance and healthcare for those already insured (Shi & Singh, 2015). Medicaid expansion is significant element of the PPACA and is designed to provide health insurance to the lower income population (Vincent & Reed, 2014). The purpose of this paper

Texas has the largest uninsured population with an estimated 6.2 million uninsured citizens within its stateliness, approximately a quarter of the statewide population (Rapoport, 2012). In 2012, then governor, Rick Perry decided that Texas would not expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This decision led to much debate over whether or not Perry made the right decision to leave upwards of a million Texans, who did not receive insurance subsidies and did not qualify for Medicaid, uninsured. These Texans fell under what many politicians refer to as the “coverage gap.” Texas decided not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act because of the effects it would have on hospitals, financial reasons, and increased number of

Ironically, Texas has the highest number of uninsured citizens in the nation, 6.2 million to be exact. The majority of these citizens are children. According to Goodwyn (2013), “by Texas refusing to participate in the Medicaid expansion, which is part of the ACA, the state will leave on the table an estimated 100 billion dollars over the next decade. It is sad to know many citizens in this state will be denied health care by those who already have the best insurance and will never have to worry about being uninsured. In addition, the Texas politicians fail to recognize the need for health care for neither its most vulnerable citizens nor the burden on the Emergency room as well as the rise in healthcare premiums for citizens who maintain health insurance. Landers (2013) reports, “whether they have a good income or a lower one, Texas lag behind much of the nation in access to and quality health care.” States who fail to expand Medicaid will see their funds distributed to states on board with expanding Medicaid.

Medicaid provides a comprehensive benefit package for those who enroll. The federal government requires coverage of thirteen services, including inpatient and outpatient hospital services, nursing home and home health care, and for children under the age of twenty-one. The benefits do not end there, Medicaid offers a

If Texas expands Medicaid coverage, the largest number of newly eligible Texas would be adults without children. Currently, these individuals are not covered under Medicaid. In addition, parents who have incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level (FPL), up from 12% previously. With a 90% federal reimbursement rate going forward, for every $10 of health care services obtained under the program, the State pays $1 and the federal funds pay the other $9. It is estimated that the State would contribute about 15.6 billion, while the federal

Medicaid is a “state-federal program” that works to make certain medical services are available to the poverty-stricken population. It creates a guideline for the state to organizes services and make them