Governor's health-insurance plan needs pragmatism http://ift.tt/1wotyDX
from Usa Insurance News http://ift.tt/1wotwfk
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Governor's health-insurance plan needs pragmatism
Gov. Bill Haslam may have succeeded in "threading the needle" in regard to expansion of health-insurance coverage in Tennessee. The governor is eschewing the term "Medicaid expansion," which is fine if the use of the term "Insure Tennessee" will allow it to win necessary approval of the Republican-controlled state Legislature.
What is proposed is not simple expansion of the Medicaid program in Tennessee, TennCare, but rather use of federal dollars to leverage state and private funding to increase the number of Tennesseans who have health insurance.
That expansion of coverage is the goal of those who have criticized Haslam for proceeding with expansion of Medicaid through the federal Affordable Care Act.
Based on their initial reactions to the proposal, the governor apparently has ameliorated their concerns with his Insure Tennessee plan.
At issue is the use of funds available through the Affordable Care Act to make Insure Tennessee a reality and the opposition of some legislators to any aspect of the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare as they prefer to term it.
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, who represents Rutherford County and the rest of the 4th District, is among those who have ideological blinders in regard to any support for Obamacare, and he has indicated that he is "apprehensive" about use of federal dollars.
Haslam is contending, however, that Insure Tennessee is unique to the state, and if it does succeed, it could become a model for other states.
DesJarlais does not have to endorse the program, but he should give the governor an opportunity to make his case to legislators without becoming a voice against it.
Haslam has indicated that one of his concerns in expanding insurance coverage in Tennessee is the burden to taxpayers in regard to state revenue.
The governor indicates that hospitals in the state will fund any additional costs of the program, and the Tennessee Hospital Association already has endorsed the proposal.
This provides an excellent example of the use of federal dollars to leverage state resources. Hospitals should receive a good return on any investment they make in Insure Tennessee.
We congratulate the governor for bringing this proposal forward, and we urge all of the legislators to take a pragmatic rather than an ideological approach in their consideration of the proposal.
Will more constituents in their districts be able to receive health-insurance coverage or better coverage because of Insure Tennessee?
Will their constituents' health be better because of greater access to medical services through Insure Tennessee?
Will medical facilities in their districts be on a stronger financial footing because of the insurance coverage for more of their constituents through Insure Tennessee?
If they can answer "yes" to these questions, then their votes on implementing Insure Tennessee should be "yes." Source
Gov. Bill Haslam may have succeeded in "threading the needle" in regard to expansion of health-insurance coverage in Tennessee. The governor is eschewing the term "Medicaid expansion," which is fine if the use of the term "Insure Tennessee" will allow it to win necessary approval of the Republican-controlled state Legislature.
What is proposed is not simple expansion of the Medicaid program in Tennessee, TennCare, but rather use of federal dollars to leverage state and private funding to increase the number of Tennesseans who have health insurance.
That expansion of coverage is the goal of those who have criticized Haslam for proceeding with expansion of Medicaid through the federal Affordable Care Act.
Based on their initial reactions to the proposal, the governor apparently has ameliorated their concerns with his Insure Tennessee plan.
At issue is the use of funds available through the Affordable Care Act to make Insure Tennessee a reality and the opposition of some legislators to any aspect of the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare as they prefer to term it.
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, who represents Rutherford County and the rest of the 4th District, is among those who have ideological blinders in regard to any support for Obamacare, and he has indicated that he is "apprehensive" about use of federal dollars.
Haslam is contending, however, that Insure Tennessee is unique to the state, and if it does succeed, it could become a model for other states.
DesJarlais does not have to endorse the program, but he should give the governor an opportunity to make his case to legislators without becoming a voice against it.
Haslam has indicated that one of his concerns in expanding insurance coverage in Tennessee is the burden to taxpayers in regard to state revenue.
The governor indicates that hospitals in the state will fund any additional costs of the program, and the Tennessee Hospital Association already has endorsed the proposal.
This provides an excellent example of the use of federal dollars to leverage state resources. Hospitals should receive a good return on any investment they make in Insure Tennessee.
We congratulate the governor for bringing this proposal forward, and we urge all of the legislators to take a pragmatic rather than an ideological approach in their consideration of the proposal.
Will more constituents in their districts be able to receive health-insurance coverage or better coverage because of Insure Tennessee?
Will their constituents' health be better because of greater access to medical services through Insure Tennessee?
Will medical facilities in their districts be on a stronger financial footing because of the insurance coverage for more of their constituents through Insure Tennessee?
If they can answer "yes" to these questions, then their votes on implementing Insure Tennessee should be "yes." Source
from Usa Insurance News http://ift.tt/1wotwfk
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