If the left wants to talk about Obamacare and how the law helps \u2062individuals with preexisting conditions, they might want to learn about Alexander Davis and his \u2064mother, Anastasia. They are but two of the people being harmed by that law\u2019s flawed sense of priorities.<\/p>\n

Over a decade ago, I wrote<\/a> that \u201cby extending health coverage to those who should be able to work, Obamacare could jeopardize the coverage of disabled populations.\u201d That\u2019s\u200b exactly what has happened in Indiana in recent weeks. Other states should take note because their vulnerable people could suffer the same harm.<\/p>\n

\u2018Accounting Error\u2019 Creates\u200c Fiscal Chaos\u2026<\/h2>\n
The\u2062 problems\u200d in Indiana \u200dstarted when Medicaid spending projections\u2064 for the current \u200bbudget\u200b exceeded the original target<\/a> by $1 billion. Call it a \u201cforecasting error,\u201d call it (as one Democrat\u2063 lawmaker did) an \u201caccounting error,\u201d but $1 billion\u2063 represents real money.<\/p>\n
When the error was discovered in \u2063December, the state \u200bbudget director said<\/a> the cost overrun presaged difficult choices about rising Medicaid spending: \u201cThis amount of growth cannot continue, so there\u2019s going to be some tough\u2064 decisions ahead.\u201d Several weeks later, \u200dAlexander and Anastasia Davis \u200cfound out who would bear the cost of those tough\u200c decisions \u2014 they would.<\/p>\n

\u2026And \u200dMedical Chaos Follows<\/h2>\n
The \u2063Indianapolis Star picked up the \u200dstory<\/a> in \u2063January:<\/p>\n
\n
Fifteen-year-old Alexander Davis is physically dependent on other people for all of his needs, \u2064from getting in\u2063 and out of his power chair to sipping a drink. But the straight-A Tipton student, \u200cwho \u200dhas spinal muscular atrophy, is\u200c his own spokesperson. In a meeting \u2026 at the Indiana Statehouse Monday, he and his mom, Anastasia, tag-teamed their case for why the state\u2019s plan to cut \u2064the family caregiver program will wreak havoc on their and hundreds of other families.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not trying to get rich off my son \u2014 I\u2019m just trying to care for him,\u201d Anastasia Davis pleaded. \u2026 \u201cSo we\u2019re just trying \u200bto communicate that these\u2064 kids shouldn\u2019t be bailed on.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
If Indiana\u2019s\u2064 proposal \u2064goes ahead, parents like Anastasia Davis will have\u2064 to have a non-family member care for their child \u2014 that is, if \u200dthey can even find an eligible, interested, and qualified caregiver at a\u200b time when\u2062 such workers are in\u2063 great demand nationwide. If they cannot find such a caregiver, family members will\u200c get transitioned into a new system giving \u2064them\u200d a daily stipend for continuing to provide care, one that Anastasia Davis says will pay her only about one-quarter of the amount she currently receives.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
Obamacare\u2019s Role<\/h2>\n
Anastasia, who says she could not find a qualified nurse to care for her son previously,\u2062 told the Star that she \u201chasn\u2019t had a job in 15 years because\u2063 taking\u2062 care of her son is a full-time occupation.\u201d That statement brings with it no small \u200bamount of irony because Indiana is cutting services like care\u200c for \u200cher son so it can continue to participate in Obamacare\u2019s expansion of Medicaid.<\/p>\n
According to \u2063 2012 data<\/a> from the Urban Institute, \u200cover three-quarters (75.8 percent) of those eligible for Medicaid expansion under Obamacare in Indiana are adults aged 18 to 64 without \u200bdependent children. (Nationwide, the \u200cpercentage is even higher, at\u2062 82.4 percent.) Yet rather than scaling back or eliminating this expansion to able-bodied adults, Indiana is instead deciding to\u2063 take away critically important caregiving services for vulnerable people with\u2063 disabilities like Alexander Davis.<\/p>\n
On its face, that decision makes little sense \u2014 until one recognizes\u200d the perverse incentives created by Obamacare. That\u2062 law \u2062gives states\u200b a 90 percent federal Medicaid match to cover able-bodied adults, while in the \u2063 current fiscal year<\/a>, Indiana will only receive a 65.62 percent Medicaid match to cover individuals with disabilities like \u2063Alexander.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately for \u2063Alexander \u2062and his mother, money \u2014 \u2064specifically, the money Washington gives to Indiana via Obamacare \u2014 talks. Because states get more money to cover able-bodied adults\u200c than individuals with disabilities within Medicaid, Indiana will put them at the head of the \u200cline to receive benefits. As a result, families \u2062of special-needs children like the Davises will \u200bget the shaft.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
Not a Compassionate Law<\/h2>\n
I noted back in 2013<\/a> that the policy choices in Obamacare were \u201cantithetical to traditional American values,\u201d \u200cincluding \u201ca safety net focused on protecting those in greatest need.\u201d People like the Davises represent some \u2064of the first Hoosiers who should qualify for government benefits.<\/p>\n
Instead, states like Indiana will cut services \u2064to some of the\u200d most vulnerable households because Obamacare wants states to focus on expanding a culture of dependence on \u2064all citizens. That\u2019s \u200bnot compassionate toward the Davises \u2014 and in \u200dthe long run, it isn\u2019t compassionate to those able-bodied adults who will become trapped in a cycle of government-imposed poverty either.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
rnrn <\/p>\n
What \u2064are the perverse incentives \u2063created by Obamacare that prioritize expansion adults over \u200bdisabled populations<\/h2>\n
\u200b \u2018Accounting \u200bError\u2019 Creates Fiscal Chaos: The\u200b Impact of Obamacare on Disabled\u2064 Populations<\/p>\n
If the left wants to talk about \u2064Obamacare and how the law helps individuals with preexisting conditions, they might want to learn about Alexander Davis and\u200d his mother,\u2062 Anastasia. They are\u2062 but two of the people\u200d being \u2062harmed by\u2062 that law\u2019s flawed sense of\u200d priorities.<\/p>\n
Over a decade ago, \u200dit\u200c was warned that \u201cby extending\u200b health coverage to those\u200c who should\u200d be able to work, Obamacare could \u200cjeopardize the coverage \u2062of disabled populations.\u201d That\u2019s exactly \u2063what has happened \u200din Indiana \u2062in recent weeks. Other states should\u200b take\u2062 note \u200bbecause\u2062 their vulnerable\u2063 people could\u200c suffer the same\u2064 harm.<\/p>\n
The problems in Indiana started when Medicaid spending\u2063 projections for the current budget exceeded the original target \u2063by \u200d$1 billion. Call it a \u200b\u201cforecasting error,\u201d call it \u2064an\u200c \u201caccounting error,” but $1\u2063 billion represents \u2063real money.<\/p>\n
When the error was discovered in December, the state budget\u200d director said \u2064the cost\u200b overrun presaged \u2063difficult choices about \u200crising\u200c Medicaid\u2063 spending: \u201cThis \u200bamount of growth cannot continue, so there\u2019s going \u200bto be some tough decisions \u200dahead.\u201d Several weeks later, Alexander and Anastasia Davis found \u200bout who would bear the\u200c cost of those\u200b tough decisions \u2014\u2062 they would.<\/p>\n
The Indianapolis Star picked\u200c up the \u2062story in January:<\/p>\n
\u201cFifteen-year-old Alexander \u2062Davis\u2062 is physically dependent \u2063on other people for \u2063all\u200b of his needs, from getting in and out of his power chair to \u2062sipping a drink. But\u2063 the straight-A Tipton student, who has spinal \u200cmuscular atrophy, is his own spokesperson. In a meeting \u2026 \u200bat the Indiana Statehouse \u200cMonday, he and\u200b his mom, Anastasia,\u200b tag-teamed their case for \u200dwhy \u200cthe state\u2019s plan to cut the family caregiver program will wreak havoc \u2064on their and hundreds of other families.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not trying to get rich\u2062 off my son \u2014 I\u2019m just trying \u200dto care for him,\u201d Anastasia Davis pleaded. \u2026\u200d \u201cSo we\u2019re just trying\u200b to \u200ccommunicate that\u200d these kids shouldn\u2019t be \u2064bailed on.\u201d<\/p>\n
If Indiana\u2019s\u2063 proposal goes ahead, \u2064parents\u200b like Anastasia Davis will have to have\u200c a\u2062 non-family member care for their child \u2014 that is, if they \u200dcan even find an eligible, interested, and qualified \u2062caregiver at a time when such workers are \u2064in great demand nationwide. If they cannot find such a caregiver, \u200dfamily members will get transitioned into a new\u2062 system giving them a daily stipend for continuing to provide care, one that Anastasia Davis says \u200cwill pay\u200c her only about one-quarter of the amount she currently receives.<\/p>\n
Anastasia,\u200b who\u200d says she could not find a qualified nurse to care \u2064for her son previously, told\u2062 the Star \u2062that she \u201chasn\u2019t \u200bhad a job\u200d in 15 years because taking care of her son \u2064is\u2064 a\u200b full-time occupation.\u201d \u200bThat statement brings with it no small amount of \u2062irony because Indiana \u2063is cutting services like care \u2062for her son so it\u200b can continue to participate in Obamacare\u2019s \u200cexpansion of Medicaid.<\/p>\n
According to 2012\u2063 data from \u200cthe Urban Institute, \u2063over\u2063 three-quarters (75.8 \u2063percent) of \u200dthose \u200beligible for Medicaid expansion\u200b under Obamacare in \u200bIndiana are adults aged 18 \u2063to\u200d 64 \u2064without\u200b dependent \u200bchildren. Yet rather than scaling back or eliminating this expansion to able-bodied adults, Indiana is \u200binstead deciding to take \u200baway critically important \u2063caregiving services for vulnerable people \u200cwith disabilities like Alexander Davis.<\/p>\n
On its face, that decision makes \u2064little\u2064 sense \u2014 until\u2063 one recognizes\u2063 the perverse \u200dincentives created by Obamacare. That law gives states a 90 percent federal Medicaid match rate \u2064for expansion adults versus 50 percent for traditional enrollees. This creates a perverse incentive \u200dfor states to prioritize expansion adults while neglecting disabled populations that would require a higher level\u200c of care.<\/p>\n
In the case of Alexander\u200c Davis and his mother, they\u200c are now facing upheaval and uncertainty in their lives, all because of \u200da billion-dollar \u200bforecasting error and the flawed priorities of Obamacare. As more states implement \u2064Medicaid expansion, \u2062they should heed the warning from Indiana and ensure\u2062 that disabled populations are not\u2064 left behind in favor \u2064of expanding coverage \u200dto able-bodied adults.<\/p>\n
The true measure of \u2064a \u2062society\u2019s compassion and care for \u200dits citizens \u2063is how it treats its most \u2064vulnerable. It is time for state and\u200c federal policymakers\u200b to reevaluate \u2063the impact of Obamacare on disabled populations and prioritize\u200b their needs alongside those of able-bodied adults. Only then can we achieve a\u200b healthcare \u2064system that truly serves the needs of all individuals, \u200dregardless of their circumstances.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Care to those with preexisting conditions, Obamacare creates a system that neglects others in need.” Alexander Davis and his mother, Anastasia, are examples of those adversely affected. The left should acknowledge the flawed priorities of this law instead of solely focusing on its benefits for individuals with preexisting conditions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":521,"featured_media":2195341,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Baking-Memories-4-Kids-Max.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2195340","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Baking-Memories-4-Kids-Max.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2195340","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=2195340"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2195340\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2195341"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2195340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2195340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2195340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}