Posted: 06/23/10 00:42
by Dave Mindeman
Just once I would like Tim Pawlenty to make a pronouncement that is factual....not misleading....and contains complete information.
I frankly don't think he is capable.
He announced yesterday that Minnesota would NOT opt in to the optional early Medicaid enrollment. And why is that?
“Signing Minnesota up early for this entitlement program would strain the state budget and put us at significant risk,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Rather than simply expanding these rapidly growing and unsustainable programs, we should reform health care to pay for quality, rather than volume of procedures, and look for ways to provide additional access through the private market.”
Well, I am not sure how much more strain and risk the budget can be given outside of what Pawlenty has already done to it, but this statement leaves out ALL the relevant facts.
The early option on Medicaid funding is something that is already going to happen in 2014. Minnesota could get early funding NOW (when we most need it) and enroll more people that could be taken off the uninsured rolls and also enroll the GAMC recipients into Medicaid instead of the uncertain new program that only a few hospitals will participate in.
All it would take is about $140 million dollars in matching annual funds for the years prior to 2014, which the medical providers are prepared to pay. There is no risk to the budget. There is a Federal return of up to $1.4 billion. And Pawlenty is full of ......
Pawlenty tries to link this funding mechanism to Congressional failure to increase Medicaid funding generally.
Gov. Pawlenty writes that the inability of Congress to pass enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) funding for states should serve as a warning about the federal government’s ability to continue spending hundreds of billions in funds without any way to pay for them.
That was a stand alone bill. It has not passed...and yes.....it, of course, would have no funding if it does not pass. The early option on the Federal Health bill HAS passed. The funding is guaranteed. Minnesota would fully benefit. And Pawlenty is full of ......
As if to re-enforce his half-truths, he repeats it again:
“Our state budget is balanced, but next year there will be some tough choices to match expenditures and revenues for the next budget period,” Gov. Pawlenty said. “The last thing we do should right now is add another $430 million in costs to the bottom line and enmesh the state in an expensive federal health care program that does nothing to control costs or impose reform. Instead, Minnesota should build on the real reform reflected in the bipartisan overhaul of General Assistance Medical Care adopted this legislative session.”
The only truthful part of that is that, yes, there will be tough budget choices regarding expenditures and revenues. But the truth ends quickly. That $430 million in costs is over 3 years and again, Pawlenty leaves out the $1.4 billion return. The Federal Health Care Program has plenty of cost controls and the CBO has analyzed its effects as a reduction in the overall deficit.
Lastly, the GAMC plan which Pawlenty uses as an example of "real reform" is a) actually based on a portion of the Federal Health Care Plan and b) is so grossly underfunded that only 4 hospitals will participate in it and virtually all of the outstate GAMC recipients have nowhere to go for care.
Thanks for nothing Governor. Don't let the door hit your butt on the way out and ...oh, yes, your're still full of ......
