SEN. TOM GEORGE URGES CONGRESS TO REMOVE UNFUNDED MANDATES
George calls on feds to reject unfunded mandates in the proposed health care reform legislation
State Senator Tom George, M.D. (R-Kalamazoo), introduced SR 106 and SCR 32 that urges Congress to remove the financial obligations for Michigan as proposed in the national health care reform legislation.
“The democrat proposed health care reform plan includes a provision that will impose unfunded mandates on Michigan which our state cannot afford,” said George.
SR 106 was passed unanimously during yesterday’s session. This resolution calls on our Michigan Congressional delegation to oppose any federal health care reforms that impose additional costs on the state, whether through expanded Medicaid requirements or other mandates.
The proposed federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (HR 3590) and the Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962) would require states to expand Medicaid coverage to people whose incomes are up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. Michigan currently covers childless adults whose incomes are up to 40 percent of the poverty level.
It is estimated that Michigan will face a $1.3-$1.5 billion dollar revenue shortfall. “Michigan does not have tens of millions of additional dollars to cover a larger Medicaid population and because the state must balance its budget, other funding priorities such as education, public safety, road improvements, etc. will be severely jeopardized,” said George.
“Instead, the President and Congress should work on granting greater flexibility to the states so they can fix their dysfunctional Medicaid programs and not create onerous costs by requiring its expansion.”
Sen. George’s resolution also asks for removal of deals made favoring political expediency over fair and good public policy. In order to pass HR 3590, it has been reported that an additional $100 million in Medicaid funds will go to Nebraska while the remaining 49 states would be required to use their own funds to pay for the Medicaid expansion.
George stated, “As a doctor and policymaker, the proposed health care reforms under consideration in Congress will not help to Fix Michigan, but instead will place a greater financial burden on an already problematic budget.”
Posted: 1/18/2010