The President is also going to use his bully pulpit to applaud Medicaid expansion by Democratic Governor Edwards.
Obama to highlight Louisiana decision to expand Medicaid
President Barack Obama is greeted by from left, Kip Holden, Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish, left, and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, as he arrives on Air Force One at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016. After giving his State of the Union address, the president is in Baton Rouge, La., to tout progress and goals in his final year in office. He is scheduled to speak at McKinley Senior High School tomorrow before heading back to Washington. At right is Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., who deplaned with the president. (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)
By Darlene Superville | AP January 14 at 8:54 AM
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana’s new governor, Democrat John Bel Edwards, is getting a public “thank you” from President Barack Obama for rejecting the stance of his Republican predecessor and starting the process to expand the state’s Medicaid program.
That’s an important end-of-term policy priority for Obama, who was appearing in Baton Rouge on Thursday as part of a post-State of the Union trip.
Obama’s health care law, enacted in 2010, allows states to use federal money to expand Medicaid and provide health coverage to more of the working poor. The federal government pays the full cost of expansion through 2016, gradually dropping to 90 percent in 2020 and after.
Thirty other states and the District of Columbia have accepted Washington’s offer. But more than a dozen mostly conservative states have not.
This is great news, and if successful, some are saying it could bring us that much closer to universal coverage like Candidate Obama argued for
Bernie Sanders has supported the President on healthcare with votes but all along has been calling for bringing the US into the modern world of countries, away from where it currently resides with the highest spending but lowest delivery. Polls show people are ready
The appeal is a broad one, especially as people learn what the Republicans want to do
Congressional support has been growing for single payer. States are stepping out on their own. Physicians and nurses know where we are lacking, and are calling for a better way.
Posted on: Wednesday, January 6, 2016
This is the right thing to do
By Mark A. Krehbiel, M.D.
Salina (Kan.) Journal, Jan. 6, 2016
SNIP
Many are concerned about another government-run system. The fact is that regulations now exist from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that basically tell hospitals and physicians what they need to provide, what they can charge and how much they get paid. The insurance companies just take a percentage off the top.
Some states are thinking of trying this system. Colorado, Oregon, Massachusetts and Vermont have all been discussing this. Although admirable, we need the whole country behind such a change. More than 60 percent of physicians are in favor of such a system. Other polls have shown that two-thirds of Americans would favor this.
The system as described would cover all doctor visits, deductibles, medications, hospital charges, nursing home services and ancillary health care needs. It would be paid for by a tax that for most of us would be less than we now pay for insurance.
If you agree with any part of a single-payer system, would like to take the hassle out of deciding on your health insurance annually, or just need some health care and a way to afford it, just check out legislation already before Congress. H.R. 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, has more than 60 sponsors. It explains how this would work.
In this politically charged environment and election year, this might seem to be an insurmountable task. However, I truly believe that with enough groundswell of support, like many past, slow-moving social change events, this will become a reality. There are many reasons for covering the basic needs of health care for all of us Americans. Mostly, I believe, because it is the right thing to do. Dr. Mark A. Krehbiel has practiced medicine in Salina for nearly 37 years.
What are the specifics ? Pfffft, we all know that sausage must be made.
We were promised that ACA was just a step, could be improved.
The President is in his last year, and has launched out there working for improvements.
We also know that Bernie Sanders is not willing to let the status quo go unquestioned.
Bernie Sanders is out tirelessly shifting to the next level: Medicare for All.
https://go.berniesanders.com/page/content/splash
