Uh, oh -- a move to privatize Medicaid in Texas?

[antigop]

Texas deal on Medicaid expansion sought
http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/01/24/4572157/texas-deal-on-medicaid-expansion.html

The Affordable Care Act is the federal law that Texas Republicans love to hate, but one top lawmaker says expanding health care for the working poor could happen if federal authorities are willing to strike a deal.

Republican Sen. Jane Nelson, chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, said she hopes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will allow Texas to receive $27 billion to expand Medicaid. But she said the key is to allow lawmakers to develop a Texas-specific program that will not blow the state's budget.

"I am still open to anything that will allow us to have the flexibility that we need, and that will also give us the assurance that it's not going to put us deeper in debt," Nelson told The Associated Press in an interview.
....
Nelson is among those who want to require some recipients to contribute toward their health care costs - such as paying income-based premiums or co-payments - something federal authorities have until now have rejected under Medicaid. She said Medicaid can also be made more efficient.

Anytime they want to make a government program "more efficient" it usually means they want to privatize it.

[KansDem]

1. "More efficient"

...means making the transfer of public funds to the private sector "more efficient."

[aquart]

2. In the dead of night, we go to Mexico with a suitcase of money and a map.

We hand them a trillion-dollar coin, they take Texas. We immediately start saving money.

[upaloopa]

3. It's all about making poor people poorer.

The reason they have Medicaid is because they are too poor to pay for care.
If the pay premiums they become poorer.
It is the old makers and takers meme.

[Gothmog]

4. This appears to be a trap

I would not trust the Texas GOP on anything

[DhhD]

5. There are several Federal Clinics in the State of Texas. Medicaid should be run like those.

Last edited Fri Jan 25, 2013, 07:53 PM - Edit history (1)

One is in Levelland, Hockley County, Texas. It is a Federal/Community Co-operative based on income.

I believe that there are Community Health care centers in Tarrant-JPS Hospital and several more through out the large counties of Texas. The Exchanges could be expanded to include all of Texas.

Levelland is 30 miles west of Lubbock. The clinic is on the southwest edge of Levelland.

(Edited for word exchange.)

[DhhD]

6. It is set up through The Community Action Partners.