{"id":2140130,"date":"2024-01-04T07:33:01","date_gmt":"2024-01-04T12:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgias-proposed-medicaid-expansion-is-the-wrong-solution-for-the-wrong-problem\/"},"modified":"2024-01-04T07:40:27","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T12:40:27","slug":"georgias-proposed-medicaid-expansion-is-the-wrong-solution-for-the-wrong-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgias-proposed-medicaid-expansion-is-the-wrong-solution-for-the-wrong-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia&#8217;s Medicaid expansion proposal is misguided and ineffective"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgeorgias-proposed-medicaid-expansion-is-the-wrong-solution-for-the-wrong-problem%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2140130&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div class=\"article-content\">\n<blockquote>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hospital Lobbyists Push for Medicaid\u200b Expansion<\/h2>\n<p>As \u200bthe Georgia Legislature \u200bconvenes, there is a growing movement\u200d to follow in \u200dNorth Carolina&#8217;s footsteps and expand \u200dMedicaid under Obamacare. However, the \u2063hospital lobbyists behind this effort \u2064are promoting a plan that has\u2063 already been criticized as wasteful and ineffective. Not only would it\u200d drain billions of federal\u200d taxpayer dollars, but it also distracts from the real \u2064healthcare\u2062 needs of the Peach State.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2-long d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-73734047\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1379703300879-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-dca7581923e0dd6802cf8914897000cb fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-dca7581923e0dd6802cf8914897000cb\"><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Hospital\u200b Lobbyists Seek\u2062 Inflated Reimbursements<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>While a\u200b traditional Medicaid expansion may \u2062not \u2063financially benefit hospitals due to low reimbursement rates, industry leaders are\u2063 proposing an alternative. They advocate for a tailored Medicaid waiver, \u200dsimilar \u200cto Arkansas, that provides higher commercial insurance reimbursement rates. However, this\u2062 approach has already been criticized for its lack of budget neutrality.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Not\u200c Nearly &#8216;Budget Neutral&#8217;<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It\u200b is\u2062 important to note that \u200cthe\u2063 Government Accountability Office (GAO)\u2064 found that Arkansas&#8217; waiver was\u2062 not budget neutral. The federal officials approved higher reimbursement levels without\u200b proper data\u200d and waived \u200ccost-effectiveness requirements. This resulted in billions\u2064 of \u200cfederal \u200cdollars being spent \u200babove what traditional Medicaid expansion would have allowed.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-84795b08a814625ec381b33d71b0e58e fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-6\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-84795b08a814625ec381b33d71b0e58e\"><\/div>\n<p>Despite the potential windfall for hospitals like Grady Memorial, it is worth noting that they \u200dare already financially\u2064 stable. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ford-foundation-rallies-behind-1619-project-creator\/\" title=\"Ford Foundation Rallies Behind 1619 Project Creator\">federal tax filings<\/a>, the\u2064 hospital has consistently achieved positive margins and its CEO has\u2062 received significant compensation. The focus should be on addressing the needs of vulnerable individuals, not enriching hospitals.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Discriminating Against the \u2062Vulnerable<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>While hospital lobbyists prioritize their own interests, individuals with disabilities like Ben Oxley, Noah Williams, and Nick Papadopoulos \u200care left waiting for care. Georgia has a\u2062 history of mistreating individuals with disabilities, and the Medicaid\u200c waiting \u2064lists for home-based services remain unacceptably long. \u200bThe\u200c needs\u200d of the most vulnerable should be the top priority for Georgia \u200cMedicaid.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-09b9199d549d2cd30ec047b1de729f59 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-10\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-09b9199d549d2cd30ec047b1de729f59\"><\/div>\n<p>A Medicaid\u2063 expansion in Georgia that uses\u2063 questionable methods and prioritizes the \u200cinterests of hospital lobbyists and \u200cable-bodied adults over individuals with\u2063 disabilities is\u2063 not fiscally conservative or\u200c morally \u2063justifiable. It \u2063is time for\u200d Peach \u2062State \u2063lawmakers to refocus their efforts on what truly matters -\u200b the well-being \u2063of their \u200dmost vulnerable citizens.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-c44e7e351698026fb9ac4c444cc118b1 fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-c44e7e351698026fb9ac4c444cc118b1\"><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2>Is the Medicaid \u200cprogram funded\u200b through \u200bfederal matching grants given to \u2064states?<\/h2>\n<p><span>Medicaid is an entitlement program, and is financed\u200d with both federal and state funds. The federal government funds its share of the program through matching payments, which pay for more\u2064 than half of all Medicaid spending. Al, meaning it did not result in savings or cost offsets. In fact, it actually <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-we-really-need-to-do-to-make-college-affordable\/\" title=\"What We Really Need To Do To Make College Affordable\">increased federal spending<\/a> by $1.4 billion over its first two years \u200bof implementation. This raises concerns about the proposed tailored Medicaid waiver in Georgia and its potential impact on the state&#8217;s budget.\u200d The hospital lobbyists pushing for this plan need to provide a clear explanation of how it will be\u200c funded and ensure that it does not burden taxpayers with additional costs.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Diverting\u200c Resources from True Healthcare Needs<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Expanding Medicaid under Obamacare is often seen as a solution to address the healthcare needs of low-income individuals and families. However, the \u2062focus should be on improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare services, rather than simply expanding a government program. By diverting resources\u2063 towards a wasteful and \u200dineffective plan, Georgia\u2064 risks neglecting other pressing healthcare issues, such as improving healthcare infrastructure, addressing mental health disparities, and reducing healthcare costs.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The\u2062 False \u2064Promise of Federal Funding<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Proponents of Medicaid expansion often point to \u2063the\u200c promise of federal funding \u2064as a justification \u200bfor \u2062their support. However, it is important to recognize that federal dollars are not infinite, \u200band there are other competing priorities that also require\u2062 funding. Moreover, relying on federal funding that may fluctuate or be subject to changes in policy leaves \u2064Georgia\u2062 vulnerable to potential funding shortfalls\u200b in the future. It is crucial to\u2064 carefully consider the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/young-americans-must-lead-the-way-in-opposing-additional-covid-shutdowns\/\" title=\"Young Americans Must Lead The Way In Opposing Additional COVID Shutdowns\">long-term consequences<\/a> of relying heavily on federal\u200d dollars for healthcare expansion.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Balanced \u200dApproach to Healthcare Reform<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Instead of blindly\u2062 following in the \u2062footsteps of other states, Georgia should take a step \u200cback and evaluate its unique\u2064 healthcare needs. This includes assessing the effectiveness of current healthcare programs and identifying areas of improvement. A more balanced approach to healthcare reform would involve\u2064 collaboration between industry stakeholders, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hillary-clinton-teams-up-with-zelenskyys-wife-on-new-ukraine-project\/\" title=\"Hillary Clinton and Zelenskyy's wife join forces for Ukraine project.\">develop innovative solutions<\/a> that address the specific needs of Georgia&#8217;s population.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>While\u2062 the push for Medicaid expansion in Georgia may be fueled by \u200dgood intentions, the plan proposed by\u200c hospital lobbyists raises valid concerns. It is essential to prioritize the efficient use of taxpayer dollars and focus on addressing the true healthcare\u200c needs of the state. Instead of blindly following the flawed\u2063 example of other states, Georgia should take a thoughtful and measured approach to healthcare\u2062 reform that ensures access to quality care, promotes \u200cfiscal responsibility, and addresses the unique challenges facing the Peach State.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When the Georgia Legislature meets, there may be a push to follow North Carolina in expanding Medicaid under Obamacare to able-bodied adults. Lawmakers in Georgia are reconsidering full expansion after a smaller extension was implemented last year, as reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Hospital lobbyists are also involved in this discussion<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":521,"featured_media":2140131,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2140130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2140130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/521"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2140130"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2140130\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2140131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2140130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2140130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2140130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}