The decider is limiting states on Medicaid coverage

[flashl]

U.S. limiting states on Medicaid coverage

U.S. states attempting to expand Medicaid coverage have recently been blocked by the Bush administration, The New York Times reported Thursday.

A federal directive on Aug. 17 said states had to enroll 95 percent of children in families with incomes below twice the federal poverty limit in the State Children's Health Insurance Program before they could expand coverage beyond that limit. While the administration never said the letter applied to Medicaid, officials in Louisiana, Ohio and Oklahoma that they had been told it did.

Both programs are funded jointly, and states must comply with federal regulations to get federal money.

"We want states to focus on enrolling their neediest population before they consider expanding Medicaid and CHIP to middle-income families," said White House spokesman Tony Fratto. "This policy demonstrates the president's compassion. He wants to direct scarce tax dollars to those with the greatest needs."

The administration argues that expanding government insurance programs will also bring in families who can afford private health insurance.

UPI

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. So the asshole is damaging the country while we're busy involved in the primaries, huh?

Nothing luckier than having 8 years of a village idiot that surrounds himself with satanic demons. It's just so good for our country.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. I don't know how it would stack up, percentage wise, but I have

known families who would not sign up for any type of government programs because of pride and an unwilligness to admit that they can't care for their needs themselves. Others have a deep distrust of having that much government involvement in their personal lives. If you have ever applied for any type of government assistance, you know how much personal information you have to supply before you qualify to receive help. If this amounted to over 5% of those eligible could that effectively block anyone else from receiving this type of assistance?

[flashl]

3. Draconian privacy violations

included in the 1996 welfare reform are addressed in this article:

No rights for the poor. From: The Progressive | Date: 11/1/1996.

After reading it, it becomes clear that collecting privacy data from the poor probably lead to expansion into other sectors of society.

I understand why someone would rather take their chances rather than submit to the government's invasion into every aspect of your life.