Tag Archives: Medicaid

If Medicaid is broken, who broke it?

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Patricia Kilday Hart asks an excellent question. [Rep. Garnet] Coleman’s observation provides part of the answer: Just last session, the Legislature trimmed $486 million in state money paid to Medicaid providers, and ended a student loan-forgiveness program for new doctors … Continue reading →

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Weekend legislative threefer

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

That sound you heard on Friday was Rick Perry stamping his feet if he doesn’t get his way. Gov. Rick Perry is warning state legislators that it could be a long, hot summer in Austin if they don’t pass his … Continue reading →

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Medicaid “expansion” bill passes out of House committee

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Forgive me for tempering my excitement about this, but it’s not that much to be excited about. Despite opposition from conservative Republicans, the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday advanced a proposal that would reform Medicaid by allowing the state to … Continue reading →

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What Obamacare will do for Texas

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Even without Medicaid expansion, the Affordable Care Act will help millions of Texans get access to health care. Nearly 2.6 million Texans could qualify for tax credits to purchase health insurance in 2014, according to a report released Thursday by … Continue reading →

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House discusses Medicaid expansion

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Sounds like a sincere effort, though whether it can get anywhere is an open question. Amid hours of testimony from advocates in support of Medicaid expansion on Tuesday, state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, described his proposal to create an alternative … Continue reading →

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Fort Bend County Commissioners Court supports Medicaid expansion

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Fort Bend County, y’all. RESOLUTION OF THE FORT BEND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT IN SUPPORT OF EXPANSION OF MEDICAIL) COVERAGE WHEREAS, Texas has the highest rate of uninsured [24%) and underinsured in the United States and 23% of the residents of … Continue reading →

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House debates its budget

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, yesterday was Budgetpalooza in the House. The House budget puts more money into public education and less into health and human services than a Senate proposal that passed the upper chamber last month. “No one is or … Continue reading →

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Williams’ “Medicaid” plan

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’m really not sure what to make of this. State Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, is crafting a Medicaid reform plan that would use premium tax revenue to subsidize private health plans for uninsured Texans, his office confirmed on Tuesday … Continue reading →

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Yes, Rick Perry still hates Medicaid

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We’re not surprised by this, right? The Texas rhetoric around a key facet of federal health reform — whether the state will expand subsidized insurance to its poorest adults — reached the high water mark on Monday, with back-to-back press … Continue reading →

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The limits of the Arkansas option

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve mentioned the Arkansas option for expanding Medicaid several times, under which the state uses Medicaid money to buy private health insurance for those who would be eligible for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. It’s not my preferred solution, … Continue reading →

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More details on the House budget

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Consider this to be written in pencil, because it’s going to change. More than $1.6 billion and disagreements on how much Texas should spend on public education and Medicaid separate the budgets proposed by the House and Senate. The Senate … Continue reading →

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The politics of refusing Medicaid expansion

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Ron Brownstein posits that by his stubborn and increasingly isolated resistance to Medicaid expansion, including via the Arkansas option, Rick Perry is putting Republicans in electoral danger in Texas. Brownstein runs through the economic arguments and touches on the legislative … Continue reading →

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Businesses say they want Medicaid expansion, too

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This really comes down to two things. Chambers of commerce representing companies such as Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) and Kimberly-Clark Corp. (KMB) are challenging Texas Governor Rick Perry and lawmakers to expand health care for the poor in the state … Continue reading →

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You can present that “Texas solution” any time now

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. John Zerwas takes to the op-ed pages to assure us that yes, the Republicans really truly do want to do something about the vast number of uninsured people in this state if only they are given the freedom … Continue reading →

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Two hot topics that stay hot together

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

You got your Medicaid expansion in my Latino outreach efforts! For Republicans nationally, the big takeaway from the 2012 presidential election was that, as a party, they have to get right — or at least do better — with Hispanic … Continue reading →

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Nine hundred million reasons why expanding Medicaid is a good idea

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s all about the money. Expanding Medicaid could make available at least $900 million in state money that otherwise would be slated for health care as lawmakers work to pay for Texas’ priorities, according to an analysis released Tuesday. “More … Continue reading →

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Straus wants someone to do something on Medicaid

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t we all, Joe. Don’t we all. Seeking to light a fire under fellow Republicans to provide health care to more uninsured Texans, House Speaker Joe Straus said Wednesday that it is time to “get our heads out of the … Continue reading →

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More counties for Medicaid expansion

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

All of these are from last week. Bexar County: On a bipartisan vote, Bexar County commissioners Tuesday urged Texas lawmakers to expand the state’s Medicaid program and take advantage of federal matching funds under the Affordable Care Act. “From 2014 … Continue reading →

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House Republicans reject Medicaid expansion

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

But that’s not quite the end of the story. House Republicans on Monday agreed not to expand Medicaid as called for under the federal Affordable Care Act — but left the door open to doing so if the Obama administration … Continue reading →

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More concern of convenience

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

David Dewhurst channels Dan Patrick. Dewhurst, noting his differing view from Straus, said he’s a product of public schools and wants to support them, but said he doesn’t want to leave an estimated 315,000 Texas students in academically unacceptable schools. … Continue reading →

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The Arkansas way

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The state of Arkansas will move forward with a plan to expand Medicaid, except that it’s not really Medicaid even though it will cover all of the Medicaid-eligible population. Here’s the explanation. Gov. Mike Beebe met with about twenty lawmakers … Continue reading →

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Harris Health System plans to serve more patients via Medicaid waiver

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The story about what they’re going to do leaves a few details out, however. Harris Health System leaders plan to serve 100,000 new patients in the next three years. That is a 37 percent increase from today, and is particularly … Continue reading →

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Yes, Ed Emmett supports Medicaid expansion

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

As I’m sure you’re aware, I’ve been banging the drum pretty much nonstop for Medicaid expansion. I see it not only as a state issue but a county issue as well, which is why I’ve made a big deal about … Continue reading →

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Report recommends against privatizing the Harris County jail

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Very good news. Privatizing the Harris County jail would be risky and may not result in savings, according to an internal county memo recommending that Commissioners Court keep the state’s largest lockup in Sheriff Adrian Garcia’s hands. The confidential Feb. … Continue reading →

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HISD cold on Patrick’s charter proposal

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

HISD has a bone to pick with Sen. Dan Patrick’s school choice bill. The Houston Independent School District was charter friendly long before other school districts were, mainly due to the influence of then-Superintendent Rod Paige. The nationally known Knowledge … Continue reading →

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As if you needed another reason to support Medicaid expansion

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Even more data on why Medicaid expansion makes sense from Texas Impact. The study, by former Texas deputy comptroller Billy Hamilton, says Texas shouldn’t pass up the chance to insure up to 2 million of its more than 6 million … Continue reading →

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Medicaid expansion pressure is having an effect

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Despite the mountains of evidence in its favor, I still can’t say that I see a path to Medicaid expansion in Texas. But stories like this do give me some hope. Adamantly opposed to expanding Medicaid coverage under President Barack … Continue reading →

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The war on women continues apace

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Honestly, I’m surprised that it’s taken as long as it has for this to happen. Abortion clinics in Texas may soon face harsh new state requirements that pro-choice advocates say could greatly reduce access to abortion. Sens Bob Deuell (R-Greenville), … Continue reading →

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LBB calls for expanding Medicaid

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the Quorum Report: LBB CALLS FOR FUNDING MEDICAID EXPANSION AS PART OF ITS ADDITIONAL BUDGET PRIORITIES The recommendation given to the Article II Senate Finance workgroup notes that $50.4 million in state funding would draw down $4 billion in … Continue reading →

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Not a big enough picture

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The headline on this story reads “County mulls big-picture health council”, but a read of the story makes it clear that there’s a big piece of this picture missing from the discussion. Harris County is discussing a big-picture approach to … Continue reading →

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Working the county Medicaid expansion angle

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

As statewide Medicaid expansion is being pushed in Austin, some activists are going to various County Commissioners Courts to push for the county option to expand Medicaid as well. “A broad spectrum of people across business, faith and health care … Continue reading →

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Supplement this!

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Time for the Lege to pay a few past-due bills from 2011. That’s where a supplemental budget comes in. It is literally a second budget added to the original one lawmakers approved in 2011. It’s not an unusual course for … Continue reading →

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School districts are still a long way from getting relief

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

School districts may have gotten a favorable ruling in the latest school finance lawsuit, and if it survives appeal it could have far-reaching effects on the current system, but that doesn’t mean that things will get better for them now. … Continue reading →

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TMA sort of endorses Medicaid expansion

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Hard to say what this means. Trustees of the Texas Medical Association passed a resolution urging state leaders to snare all federal Medicaid matching dollars that are on the table. The group hinged its support, though, on simultaneous actions by … Continue reading →

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