Medicaid Expansion is Unsustainable

PRESS RELEASE
February 4, 2013

For Immediate Release
Contact: Marianne Gasiecki
State Co-coordinator (OH) - Tea Party Patriots
(419) 961-4439

Medicaid Expansion is Unsustainable
Tea Party Patriots (OH) Oppose Medicaid Expansion

Ohio - February 4, 2013 - Governor Kasich has been under a lot of pressure from progressive organizations, as well as lobbyists from the medical/hospital industry, to expand Medicaid in Ohio, and today announced that he will be doing just that.

"Since taking office and erasing an $8 billion hole in our budget, Governor Kasich's fiscally conservative approach to governing Ohio has brought our state a budget surplus. It's very disappointing that Governor Kasich has decided to expand Medicaid in Ohio under Obamacare, and abandon his fiscally conservative policies that have served our state well," said Ralph King, Co-founder of the Cleveland Tea Party Patriots and State Co-coordinator for Tea Party Patriots (OH).

The Governor's office recently expressed concern over the ability of the state to cope with the increased costs that occur when Ohioans currently eligible for Medicaid begin enrolling to comply with the Affordable Care Act's individual mandates. Medicaid benefits for these individuals are subject to Ohio's normal federal Medicaid formula and will cost the state nearly $700 million in the first two years alone. 

The Medicaid expansion would apply to all eligible Ohioans at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level and would create a significant fiscal liability for the state beginning in 2017. The federal government has said it will pay 100 percent of the cost of Medicaid expansion in the first three years, with the subsidy phasing down after that.

"Considering the financial crisis the federal government is currently facing, I expect that promise to be reneged upon, and Ohio to be left holding the bag. Aside from the fact that Ohio would still have to incur the expense of covering 50% of the administrative costs to run the new program, expanding entitlements will make more people more dependent on government, rather creating a stronger more independent citizenry through economic growth" stated Marianne Gasiecki, Founder of the Mansfield Tea Party and fellow State Co-coordinator.

Tea Party Patriots is organized as a 501(c)(4). Our three core principles are fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government and a free market society.

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