Opinions

Legislative majority would rather cost Alaska money than compromise on Medicaid expansion

I'd like to write about fishing or tourism or some folksy story about hitchhiking in Alaska, but the Republican majority in our Legislature won't let me. Without a vote of the members of the committee and without any testimony from the public, the majority co-chair, Fairbanks Rep. Steve Thompson has decided 40,000 working Alaskans don't deserve health care coverage.

Remember when the majority decided they would take a two week vacation -- but it wouldn't be a vacation because they'd be working so hard? You know, like how the House Majority leader Charisse Millett explained, talking to the constituents she runs into at Fred Meyer or while walking her dog. Apparently she wasn't kidding. The majority that claimed they needed to leave Juneau so they could go back to their districts hasn't held a single hearing to hear from the public. Why not? They don't want the public to show up because then they'd be exposed for not representing the public.

Their other excuses? Well, there have been a litany of them. Before this session, they said they couldn't expand Medicaid because they needed to have hearings. They conveniently ignored the fact that they have had bills that would expand Medicaid in their possession for over a year, yet never had a single hearing. Then they said they wouldn't expand Medicaid until the governor filed a bill. So Gov. Bill Walker filed one. Then they said they needed hearings on that bill. So the commissioner testified before the Legislature 30 times. Then they said it was too expensive, until it was proven that expanding Medicaid would bring in roughly $150 million per year in federal funds, create 4,000 private sector jobs and actually save the state millions.

Then they said it was too risky to accept these federal dollars since they could go away in the future. This risk, however, does not seem to deter them from accepting billions in other federal funds -- nearly 50 percent of our entire budget -- for things like roads, airports and education. Nor has it deterred prior legislatures in recent history from accepting federal funds. In fact, in 2009 Gov. Sarah Palin vetoed $28.6 million in federal stimulus funds for home weatherization. The Legislature promptly called itself into special session and overrode her veto.

In any event, to address the risk of potential loss of federal funds, Walker put a provision in his bill that Medicaid expansion would go away by law if federal reimbursements dipped below 90 percent. Still not enough.

Then certain legislators began harping that we needed to reform Medicaid as well as expand it. So Walker included reforms in his bill that will save the state $570 million over six years. So, not only is Medicaid expansion paid 100 percent this year, but we actually save money by expanding and reforming Medicaid.

Let me put it another way -- by not passing the governor's bill, we will actually be paying hundreds of millions of dollars to deny 40,000 Alaskans health care.

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Now, these Keystone Kop legislators claim our computer system can't handle expanding Medicaid. Once again ignoring the testimony that yes, under Gov. Parnell, the system was a disaster, but it now is fixed. Amazing what an executive branch that actually listens and responds to the people can do.

Mind you -- these legislators never gave a rat's butt when the system was actually broken for the last few years and Medicaid providers were begging to have it fixed. In the fall of 2013, Parnell had a press conference about the issue. One year ago I wrote a column about this computer system failure after talking to doctors who hadn't been paid for 10 months.

There was a hearing over a year ago with testimony from health care providers taking out loans to keep their doors open. At the time, the back payments were in excess of $200 million. It was not a priority for the Legislature. When Sen. Bill Wielechowski invited more than two dozen health care providers to meet with the health commissioner, the commissioner bailed out 15 minutes before the meeting was to start.

The Medicaid payment system is online now. Doctors and providers are being paid.

The reasons given by the Republican leadership to not expand Medicaid is that the system can't possibly handle it. They didn't care about doctors going broke a few years ago, but now that's just too much to get their heads around. If only you could collect their excuses -- they'd be great to fertilize your garden.

There was a legal opinion given before the legislative session -- the not so special one -- that said Walker was within his authority to accept the funds to expand Medicaid. I understand wanting to have wide-ranging support of this program. Not only did the Republican majority refuse to pass the governor's bill -- they actually put in all three budgets language that says the governor can't expand it. This would actually force the governor to veto all of the budgets if he actually intends to expand Medicaid.

At this point it is costing Alaska millions to NOT accept the funds. Sort of like our oil production tax -- we're paying them to take our resource -- and we're paying money to not have Medicaid expanded. This is the math that is acceptable to the Republican majority.

Now you probably realize why they don't want to bring their sorry behinds in front of the public.

So, here's the political showdown. The Republicans are apparently willing to shut down the government and hold the entire state hostage rather than provide health care to 40,000 Alaskans, create 4,000 jobs and save the state hundreds of millions.

Walker, please veto the budgets -- cut mega-projects we can't afford, fund education and expand Medicaid. Hold your own town hall meetings across the state and you'll soon find that a majority of Alaskans support you. We'll have your back. Make the majority take you to court if need be. Keep your promise.

Shannyn Moore is a radio broadcaster.

The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.

Shannyn Moore

Shannyn Moore is a radio broadcaster. You can hear her show, "The Last Word," Monday through Friday 4-6 p.m. on KOAN 95.5 FM and 1080 AM and 1480 We Act Radio in Washington, D.C., and on Netroots Radio.The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, e-mail commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.

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