McLennan Court urges Medicaid Expansion

Condition precedent for Obamacare's onslaught

Waco – The road commissioners are being asked to support a resolution that would approve expansion of the Texas Medicaid program – with certain reservations.

It's a tall order.

Considered a condition precedent for instituting the Affordable Health Care and Patient Protection Act of 2010, the proposed measure is heavily opposed in the Texas Legislature.

Governor Rick Perry has flatly refused to implement any such expansion, and at least one bill would make it a felony crime for federal agents or inspectors to attempt to enforce any law or regulation that would force the same, if passed.

The McLennan County resolution calls for, “after considerable study, debate and forethought...our Support of Medicaid Expansion under the conditions and with the reservations outlined below.

“The McLennan County Commissioners Court would support an expansion of Medicaid which:

“Increases availability of and expands access to affordable, available healthcare for our citizens while ensuring a fair compensation to all our local health care providers for necessary healthcare rendered;

“includes a commitment of federal funding of 100 percent of the expansion for the first three years and 90 percent thereafter;

“does not place the burden of paying for indigent healthcare unfairly on Texas counties, municipalities, local hospitals or physicians; and which

“does not mandate new or increased responsibilities/costs on Texas counties, cities, healthcare providers, employers or our local taxpayers...”

Uh, yeah. Uh huh.