Advertisement

Maxwell: The case for accepting Medicaid expansion money

 
Published Jan. 2, 2015

I don't have a New Year's resolution but a simple wish for 2015. For the sake of our children, I wish that when the Florida Legislature convenes in March, it would take advantage of yet another opportunity to reverse its rejection of billions from the federal government over the next decade to expand health care coverage for nearly 1 million residents.

In addition to being compassionate and moral, finding a way to accept the federal money would be practical because it would benefit all children.

Florida lawmakers are making insurance coverage policies based on ideology, party loyalty and contempt for President Barack Obama and the Affordable Care Act. That should not be. Health insurance is so important for our children that lawmakers should earnestly consider the best research related to insurance coverage and children's welfare.

A lot of sound research has been conducted. Scholars from Harvard University and Cornell University have found, for example, that children with health insurance through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program go further in school than their uninsured peers. The research shows, in fact, that students covered by Medicaid or CHIP perform better all around, graduating from high school and attending college at greater rates than students who are uninsured.

All of this means that insured students — having access to affordable medical care — have greater chances to achieve into adulthood. The link between good health, academic achievement and workplace success are obvious to anyone who isn't blinded by crass politics.

In a related study, researchers at Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families show that when low-income parents have health insurance, insurance enrollment for their children is commensurate. When parents are not insured, their children are usually not insured. In short, when we insure parents, we insure children.

Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature have another opportunity to expand health care coverage for nearly 1 million residents. Several other Republican governors of conservative states, including those in Tennessee, Ohio, Utah and Wyoming, have reversed themselves and found ways to insure their low-income residents and their children.

Scott and other Republicans could learn from Ohio Gov. John Kasich. In explaining his change of heart to expand health care coverage, he was unequivocal: "The opposition to it was really either political or ideological. I don't think that holds water against real flesh and blood and real improvements in people's lives."

A coalition of state health care industry and business leaders has worked out a coverage plan called "A Healthy Florida Works" that would insure people in the Medicaid gap. A few Republican lawmakers, including Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, are said to be at least open to looking at the plan.

Spend your days with Hayes

Spend your days with Hayes

Subscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter

Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

Interestingly, the coalition includes business groups that routinely back Republican business policies. Common sense should dictate that the plan would appeal to Republicans because it doesn't expand Medicaid. Those who qualify for coverage would choose from among private insurance options. What's wrong with that?

Of course, there's no guarantee the Obama administration will approve the plan because it mandates that for people to remain eligible, they would have to pay premiums and be employed, or training for a job or looking for one.

If Washington approves a version of the plan, Florida would get federal money to cover the cost of expanding coverage for nearly 1 million people through 2016. Beyond that, the state would be able to pay its share of coverage by shifting money now spent on other programs for the uninsured. Think of the benefits to low-income parents and their children.

Here's what makes Florida's opposition to expanding insurance coverage irrational: We're still paying the same federal taxes, and our money is going to pay for expanded insurance coverage in other states. How smart is that? The coalition's plan would bring our tax dollars back to us. Here's more irrationality: Although GOP lawmakers turned down federal dollars, our health care providers, businesses and insured families are still paying for the uninsured. Where's the logic?

For the sake of our children's future, this nonsense has to stop. As Kasich said, we're dealing with "real flesh and blood."