GOP Lawmakers to Stick With Perry on Medicaid Expansion
Two key Republicans legislators — both of them doctors — say they're sticking with Gov. Rick Perry’s position that Texas will reject the Medicaid expansion provision of federal health reform, despite a rising tide of Republican governors who are embracing it.
During a Texas Tribune TribLive conversation on Wednesday, Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, and Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, both spoke against expanding Medicaid, which they called a “broken system.” But they left the door open to working with the Obama administration if it provides more flexibility to let Texas operate the program as it sees fit.
“We send our money ...
Comments (3)
Susan Syler
I felt both legislators were disingenuous by not acknowledging that local tax dollars pay for the healthcare that could be funded by Medicaid expansion. And they were expert politicians when asked how they would address low Medicaid reimbursement to physicians; they sidestepped the question and talked about funding graduate medical education.
Christie Smith
I'm SURE this has nothing to do with the fact that these doctors don't care for the low Medicaid reimbursements - and THAT'S why they don't want it expanded....no, couldn't be!
Whatever happened to the Hippocratic Oath? Goes out the door with the oath of office, I suppose.
Michelle James
The legislators opposed to Medicaid expansion are a disgrace to this state and are doing a disservice to those without insurance, most of whom are working poor; and to the taxpayers, who foot the bill for unreimbursed healthcare.