Several legislators said this was news to them this morning. A news release, bearing the names of House Republican leader David Lust and House Democratic leader Bernie Hunhoff, was distributed by the Democratic Senate office staff person that announced the following: Legislative Leaders form Bipartisan Medicaid Expansion Exploratory Committee.
The statement lists the following members of the panel:
Senate Republicans — Russ Olson, Jean Hunhoff, Craig Tieszen, Ryan Maher, Stan Adelstein, Mark Johnston and Shantel Krebs;
Senate Democrats — Jason Frerichs and Billie Sutton;
House Republicans — David Lust, Brian Gosch, Scott Munsterman, Scott Ecklund and Christine Erickson; and
House Democrats –Bernie Hunhoff, Julie Bartling, Spence Hawley, Susan Wismer and Scott Parsley.
They are calling for a joint meeting of the House and Senate health and human services committees.
As an interesting aside, the 19 include three first-year legislators, all from the House, in Ecklund, Erickson and Parsley.
#1 by Ambiguous on February 13, 2013 - 1:18 pm
David Lust and Brian Gosch must just think the caucus is getting along too smoothly and want to fire some people up.
Glasses up! Here’s to old times!
#2 by polly politic on February 13, 2013 - 5:17 pm
Expanding Medicaid sounds just great. The feds will pay for most it sounds just great. But wait, when (and it’s not a matter of if, but it IS when) the feds bail on the mandate, just who is going to pick up the tab and how? It’s time to face facts. If a Medicaid recipient can afford a fancy cell phone, internet, new color TV, cable, brand name shoes, etc), they can afford to pay for their medical insurance. If Medicaid is expanded in the state, be prepared for higher state taxes.
#3 by sdsenstan on February 16, 2013 - 12:31 pm
Most of us are already paying that tax, every day. That is, those of us who have insurance or pay cash for our health care. The tax is “hidden” – unless we look at the annual increase in our employer’s, or our own insurance premiums each year.
Right now, this very day, as you are reading this, South Dakota Hospitals and County “poor relief” were unable to collect from those go the clinic or hospital $89 MILLION last year.
Some one has to make that up — this is not Nazi Germany or Africa, where they may be just left to die, they will get treatment in a Community Health Center or emergency room – or Hospital Room.
64% of the Governor’s 48,000 “able bodied” hold a job, some are working two. This percent comes from him — his reply – when I asked what he meant by the “able bodied.” These individuals and families are what we often call the “working poor”
Rght now, today, nearly ninety million dollars ($90 MILLION) is paid for by increased fees from all of us who have insurance or pay cash. If we look only at 64% of $89M = $58M. The Federal reimbursement for 2014 could be $58.3 MILLION – assuming those with insurance share the rest of the cost.
Now maybe (or maybe not) the Fed’s share will go down in four years.
I will be joining (or offering) an amendment to the General Bill that will have the same “trigger” as the Arizona law that reduces State share if the Fed’s increase our share, and the State has to make it up.
If on the other hand, those who have Insurance or pay cash, enjoy – really like – paying the extra from this “hidden” tax out of their pocket, they should ask their Legislator(s) to oppose this plan,
State Senator Stan Adelstein