[M] Medicaid

Dear Friends,

The Obama administration is trying to prevent those negatively impacted by cuts to Medicaid, that is to say the poor, from suing for redress.  Fortunately, a group of influential Democrats in Congress are fighting back.  An article in The New York Times today by Robert Pear explains (here).

In an unusual break with the White House, the Democratic leaders of Congress told the Supreme Court on Monday that President Obama was pursuing a misguided interpretation of federal Medicaid law that made it more difficult for low-income people to obtain health care. The Democratic leaders said Medicaid beneficiaries must be allowed to file suit to enforce their right to care — and to challenge Medicaid cuts being made by states around the country.
The Obama administration maintains that beneficiaries and health care providers cannot sue state officials to challenge cuts in Medicaid payment rates, even if such cuts compromise access to care for the poor.
In a friend-of-the-court brief, the lawmakers said the administration’s position “would undermine the effectiveness of Medicaid.” In addition, they said, it conflicts with more than a century of court precedents that allow people to sue to block state actions that are inconsistent with federal law.

How can it be that a President of the United States that claims to be a member of the Democratic Party can throw poor people under the bus so easily?  Unfortunately, it fits with how President Obama has chosen to be President.  How often does President Obama even mention the poor much less take actions (like job creating programs) that would help the poor?

Thanks for reading and please comment,
The Unabashed Liberal