Gov. Parnell (R. Alaska) might reject Medicaid expansion

[Blue_In_AK]

http://www.adn.com/2012/07/11/2538859/parnell-might-reject-medicaid.html

WASHINGTON - Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell is expressing "serious concerns" about letting the federal government pay for medical care of more than 30,000 lower-income Alaskans, saying it would also result in state costs he's hesitant to take on.

Parnell refused requests for an interview this week. But he provided a written statement in which he laid out reservations with allowing the Medicaid expansion in the federal health care law. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld most of the law last month but said the states have a choice on the expansion of Medicaid eligibility to anyone with an income up to 133 percent of the poverty level, among the major parts of the law.

Alaska, under the Parnell administration, was among the states that sued to overturn the health care law and Parnell is calling for its repeal. At least five of Parnell's fellow Republican governors so far have promised to block the Medicaid expansion in their states, with Texas Gov. Rick Perry calling it a brazen intrusion into Texas sovereignty. Parnell said he is still weighing whether to allow the expansion and his spokeswoman, Sharon Leighow, said his decision is "likely weeks if not months away."

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius wrote Parnell and other governors this week, urging them to allow the Medicaid expansion. She wrote that the court's decision didn't change the fact the federal government will pay the full cost of the expanded coverage in the first three years it is in place and at least 90 percent of the cost after that.

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This is the same Gov. Parnell who wants to give a $2 billion a year tax break to Alaska's Big Three oil producers. Typical Republican bullshit.

It should be noted, as well, that Alaska is doing just fine financially, thank you very much. Parnell is an idiot.