“State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, who chairs the Texas Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee, said the [federal] policy change will allow states more flexibility with their health care systems. The new policy, however, would have less impact in Texas than in some other states due to Texas’ already limited Medicaid eligibility for nonworking residents,” the Austin American-Statesman reports.
“I’ve said for years that Medicaid is a costly and broken system, and that we need to explore all available options to put this program on a more sustainable fiscal trajectory, including co-payments, health savings accounts, and work requirements where appropriate,” Schwertner said in a written statement. “I believe that every Medicaid or welfare recipient who is capable of working, particularly those in expansion states, should be expected to bear some responsibility for the cost of their own health care.”
“This barely applies to Texas because Texas’ Medicaid program is such a limited program. Most adults who can work here are ineligible and those who can’t work are eligible,” liberal Democrat state Senator Kirk Watson said.
Frankly I don’t care if the system is already tight in Texas. Senator Schwertner is right to push for even more tightening of the program. Our society does not improve itself without the ethos that one must be as productive as possible and that any help from others should be dependent upon how much one is willing to help one’s self.
Additionally, Medicaid is the number-one budget crowd out for everything from education to roads to border security. Anything that helps Texas slow growth of the handout is likely quite positive.
Will federal change help with Medicaid in Texas?
“I’ve said for years that Medicaid is a costly and broken system, and that we need to explore all available options to put this program on a more sustainable fiscal trajectory, including co-payments, health savings accounts, and work requirements where appropriate,” Schwertner said in a written statement. “I believe that every Medicaid or welfare recipient who is capable of working, particularly those in expansion states, should be expected to bear some responsibility for the cost of their own health care.”
“This barely applies to Texas because Texas’ Medicaid program is such a limited program. Most adults who can work here are ineligible and those who can’t work are eligible,” liberal Democrat state Senator Kirk Watson said.
Frankly I don’t care if the system is already tight in Texas. Senator Schwertner is right to push for even more tightening of the program. Our society does not improve itself without the ethos that one must be as productive as possible and that any help from others should be dependent upon how much one is willing to help one’s self.
Additionally, Medicaid is the number-one budget crowd out for everything from education to roads to border security. Anything that helps Texas slow growth of the handout is likely quite positive.