Midlands Voices: Expanded Medicaid, healthier state

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/opinion/midlands-voices-expanded-medicaid-healthier-state/article_c7c0cd68-140c-5ee1-b516-8dca13a32d43.html


POSTED: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2015 1:00 AM | UPDATED: 9:07 AM, MON NOV 30, 2015.
By Rebecca Gould

The writer is executive director of Nebraska Appleseed. (https://neappleseed.org/)


Recently, yet another state seized the opportunity to allow people with low incomes to afford health insurance when Montana saw their state-specific Medicaid expansion plan approved by the federal government.

Quickly on the heels of that news, a task force set up by the governor of Alabama recommended that state find a solution to allow their uninsured people to find affordable coverage.

The list currently stands at 30 states, plus the District of Columbia, that have chosen to bring federal tax dollars back to their state to invest in a healthier workforce, support jobs in local communities and provide stability for hard-working people.

We’re happy to see that a bipartisan group of Nebraska state senators, led by Sens. John McCollister of Omaha, Kathy Campbell of Lincoln and Heath Mello of Omaha, is continuing to examine the various plans that other states have designed to cover their uninsured people and explore fresh ideas that might best serve Nebraska. We earnestly hope more of their colleagues will come to the table to help craft a solution to this damaging problem that can no longer be ignored.

FULL story at link.