The Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” starts taking effect in less than six months. This cool and cute video outlines how different groups of Americans will be affected. Give it a glance!
Medicaid
Medicaid Expansion in Texas: Time is Running Out to Speak Our Minds!
Medicaid still matters, and millions of Texans remain without any health insurance coverage at all.
The current Texas legislative session ends in less than two weeks. At this point, it looks like Texas is not going to participate in straightforward Medicaid expansion as set forth in the federal Affordable Care Act. It will be two years before the state legislature may look at this main issue again.
However, one option remains on the table as a provision in the Senate’s version of the state budget. This choice would make way for Texas to negotiate with the federal government to use dollars earmarked for Medicaid expansion to create a new healthcare system for Texas that is different from Medicaid. This approach would affect not only people who are uninsured, but also people who already receive Medicaid. Just how folks would be affected would depend on the outcome of the negotiations and the details of the new system–all future unknowns.
We Texans have the responsibility to read up, make up our minds, and let our representatives know how we feel. The clock is ticking down, and these last few days of the legislative session are our last chance to be heard on this issue for a long time. Do you want Medicaid to stay like it is and not expand to include others? Or, would you like Medicaid to change and be able to include people who are uninsured? It’s our choice, but only if we make ourselves heard.
Once you decide, just follow the link below to find your specific representatives. Then give ’em a good ol’ Texas holler or zap ’em an email! Medicaid matters, and so does choice!
Medicaid Expansion in Texas Still Undecided, But The Debates Continue
As the current legislative session draws nearer to close, Texas lawmakers are still debating what to do about Medicaid Expansion. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 offers states the option to expand their existing Medicaid programs to provide health insurance coverage to millions of uninsured adults. Texas has the largest percentage of uninsured adults in the nation at a rate of 20-25%. The federal government would pay 100% of new Medicaid Expansion costs for three years, then gradually reduce their contribution to 90%, leaving states to then sustain the remaining 10%. Unlike other federal programs that mandate sustainability, states unable or unwilling to budget this residual cost will have the choice to opt out.
Opponents argue that Texas cannot afford Medicaid Expansion because of the possibility of increased healthcare costs down the road, and that opting out of the program later would be unfair to Texans by pulling the proverbial rug from under them. Lawmakers are now exploring several other alternatives to straightforward Medicaid Expansion. Those options include using traditional Medicaid block grant money to overhaul the existing Medicaid system, setting up a new state health care system in place of Medicaid, or negotiating with federal lawmakers about how Medicaid Expansion funds could be used differently, such as using private insurers to provide the expanded care or setting up “personal responsibility” measures to offset future costs, such deductibles as co-payments for expanded Medicaid services.
Medicaid matters because it helps people and creates jobs, but it also costs a great deal of money. The important thing right now is that our lawmakers are talking actively and exploring our options. It’s our job as Texans to investigate those options for ourselves, make up our own minds, and then let our legislators and our governor know where we stand. We can surf the Internet, read newspapers, and listen to the news to learn more about Medicaid Expansion in Texas. We can also use the link below to find out who our representatives are and how to contact them.
Find Your Texas Representatives
BVCIL Staff Attend Statewide Independent Living Conference
Eight BVCIL staff members attended the Texas Statewide Independent Living Conference in Austin, March 3-5. The conference theme was “Take a Seat to Make a Stand.” We collaborated with folks from other Centers for Independent Living, many representatives from state organizations like DADS and DARS, and lots of individual Texans who have disabilities to bring back to our community information and ideas on advocacy, employment, Medicaid, and many other important issues.
The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Austin, noted for its accessibility, served as the site for this year’s conference. Attendees also had opportunities to interact with several well-known service providers such as the Texas Talking Book Program at their exhibit booths.
Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell issued a special proclamation officially recognizing the dates of the conference as Independent Living Days in Austin.
Although not an actual part of the conference itself, the event culminated in a march of over 2500 Texans with disabilities and friends down Congress Avenue for a rally at the Capitol to stress the importance of state Medicaid benefits.