On the heels of President Bush's attempt to cut down funding for government-sponsored health care to those in need, we receive word that Indiana's news health care plan for children may be affected:
Plans under the new state budget to insure some 40,000 additional children under Hoosier Healthwise would be scaled back if new Bush administration rules to limit the expansion of government-sponsored health care prevail over the wishes of Congress.
Dennis Smith, who oversees individual state Medicaid programs for the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, sent a letter to states Friday establishing the stringent new criteria for children from households that earn more than 2 1/2 times the federal poverty level, a floating scale that amounts to $51,625 for a family of four.
The new criteria would undermine the state's planned expansion of Hoosier Healthwise to cover children in families earning three times the federal poverty level - $61,950 for a family of four. The expansion was included in the state budget as part of Indiana's new health care plan for low-income adults.
FINALLY!
For months I have watched as Governor Daniels and FSSA chief Mitch Roob have complained about the federal government meddling in the affairs of state-administered programs. Here is something that I can agree with them on. I mean truly, how ridiculous is it that they would try to deny need children their much-needed health care? Are you with me Mitch!?
FSSA Secretary Mitch Roob, whose agency administers Hoosier Healthwise, said he had no problem with the new federal SCHIP rules.
"Our problem in Indiana remains the health care of poor children and poor adults, not the health care of middle-class kids," Roob said.
Wow. I'm just going to repeat that so you can let the absurdity of this statement sink in.
"Our problem in Indiana remains the health care of poor children and poor adults, not the health care of middle-class kids," Roob said.
Actually, the health care of middle-class kids does matter Mr. Roob, and you might know this if you found the time to remove your head from the arse of the private sector long enough to talk to some of the people who are served by your administration.
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