Sunday, July 22, 2012
Health Care Republican messaging: Denial of medical care good for U.S.
Posted by Max Brantley on Sun, Jul 22, 2012 at 6:38 AM
- WHO'S HARD-HEARTED?: Rep. Nate Bell defends denial of Medicaid expansion.
Here's the Stephens Media coverage.
With a tiny handful of exceptions, Republicans are hungering to provide the necessary one-fourth vote to block Medicaid expansion, block health care exchanges for people who can afford new government-aided insurance and block help for struggling hospitals. Rep. Nate Bell, one of the most reactionary of a reactionary GOP delegation, complained to the Democrat-Gazette that Democrats are trying to make Republicans look mean by emphasizing their opposition to expansion of help for Arkansas people.
“The governor wants to appear compassionate like ‘I want to help these folks.’ But really, it’s ‘I want to make the new Republican majority in the House look like hardhearted folks that don’t care about people,’” Bell said, adding that he expects the GOP to win a state House majority in November.
Back to facts, matters of little relevance to the Arkansas Republican Party.
Of all the things on which Republicans choose to take a stand, why is it health of their fellow Arkansans? The legislature could refuse federal dollars in support of the National Guard. That runs up the deficit, too. Or maybe it could find a way to block federal agriculture spending. That runs up the deficit, too. Education money? Same thing. Support for law enforcement? Another deficit builder.
No, the Republicans have a better idea. First, tax cuts for the wealthy. Talk about a deficit builder, as recent years illustrate. And then, before everything else, cut spending on sick working people and their children.
Look hard-hearted?
Speaking of Arkansas Republicans, Medicaid
-
State gets $5.1 million for Medicaid in settlement over adulterated drugs
May 14, 2013Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has announced that Arkansas will get $5.1 million, including federal matching funds, for its Medicaid program as part of the $500 million settlement of a lawsuit against Ranbaxy, a drug manufacturer in India that provided subpar generic drugs. /more/
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Obamacare application simplified
April 30, 2013The Washington Post's Wonkblog reports that the feds have developed a simpler application for health coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. /more/
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Managing Medicaid: A cautionary tale
April 23, 2013It's an appealing notion, managing government-financed health care programs like Medicaid to encourage less expensive types of care and turning it over to the ever-so-efficient private sector to get the job done. /more/
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The House takes up Medicaid expansion
April 8, 2013The Arkansas House is now meeting as a committee of the whole to hear the pitch for taking federal Medicaid expansion money, but my moving more people into private health insurance, rather than through a government-overseen program. /more/
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UPDATE: Senate endorses Medicaid expansion
April 5, 2013The Arkansas Senate endorsed Medicaid expansion in Arkansas through a private insurance option. But the vote fell three short of what will be needed to approve an accompanying appropriation bill to spend the money. /more/
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The Thursday night line
April 4, 2013Over to you. Closing out: * ROUND ONE IN THE MEDICAID FIGHT: The Senate meets at 8 a.m. /more/
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Koch organization says no to Obamacare expansion in Arkansas
April 3, 2013The Kochs have spoken. Their Americans for Prosperity chapter in Arkansas has formally announced opposition to the legislature approving the Obamacare-provided expansion of health care coverage under the Medicaid program. /more/
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Feds give 'conceptual' OK to private option Medicaid plan
April 2, 2013Gov. Mike Beebe's office has announced positive news from the federal government on the proposal to expand Medicaid by moving those eligible to coverage under private insurance programs through the new health insurance exchanges. /more/
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Chamber endorses 'private option' Medicaid plan
March 28, 2013This ought to cinch it. The masters of the universe have spoken: The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas has today announced its support for the “private option” healthcare coverage approach currently under discussion by members of the Arkansas General Assembly and the Governor’s office. /more/
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Republicans target existing Medicaid program
March 27, 2013One of the key appeals of the "private option" to Republican lawmakers is that it moves significant populations that now get coverage under Medicaid out of the public program and onto subsidized private insurance. /more/
- More »
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