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 Post subject: Obama-Care Claims it's First Casualty
PostPosted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 11:08 am 
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http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake ... 7dfca.html

Governor suspends HIP enrollment



INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana temporarily suspended most new enrollments in the Healthy Indiana Plan on Monday and is considering a legal challenge to national health insurance reform.

Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels said he ordered the Family and Social Services Administration to stop signing up new participants in the consumer-managed insurance program for low-income Hoosiers because federal legislation approved Sunday "annihilates" HIP by forcing many participants into Medicaid. President Obama is expected to sign the legislation today.

"I don't see any reason to add people to the rolls of a program whose days are numbered," Daniels said.

HIP began in 2008 and is paid for by federal Medicaid funds and a 44-cent state tax on cigarettes. Approximately 45,000 Hoosiers currently are enrolled.

Under the new legislation, most HIP participants will be insured through an expanded Medicaid program beginning in 2014, while others will receive a subsidy to purchase private insurance. Certain families with children still will be allowed to enroll now because their coverage is funded by federal stimulus dollars.

The governor said it's too soon to decide whether the HIP cigarette tax hike should be repealed or if the revenue should be used for other purposes.

House Speaker Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, and Senate Democratic Leader Vi Simpson, D-Ellettsville, both blasted Daniels' decision, accusing the governor of putting politics above people.

"Now we are clear about one plank of the platform in our governor’s presidential bid: denial of health care benefits for more than 30 million people across this country," Bauer said.

But Daniels said his main concern is that expanding Medicaid will force Indiana to raise taxes. Medicaid is a joint federal-state program. The federal government pays about 66 cents of every dollar spent on Medicaid and the state pays about 33 cents. About 500,000 additional Hoosiers, including HIP participants, will be eligible for Medicaid under the new legislation, the governor said.

"The next governor of this state is going to be faced with a massive new Medicaid cost that we don't face now, and that is an additional tax which will be paid through state sales and income taxes," Daniels said.

Daniels is term-limited and cannot run for a third term as governor in 2012. Some suggest he is considering a presidential bid, but he often denies any interest in running for president.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced Monday he is reviewing the health care legislation to determine whether it illegally infringes on state sovereignty.

"There are significant constitutional questions regarding the federal government's authority raised by the legislation passed Sunday," Zoeller said. "I believe it is necessary that these ultimately be brought before the United States Supreme Court."

Before the health care vote, Zoeller detailed potential constitutional challenges in a 55-page opinion requested by U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind. At least 13 other state attorneys general have said they also are considering court challenges to the health care legislation.


Now where will the states come up with enough money to fund Medicaid's increased enrollments? New York City can barely pay for those on their roles already. Here in Indiana Obama-Care killed the Healthy Indiana Plan. I wonder if this means the state will repeal the extra $.55 a pack tax on cigarettes it imposed? As they say, once the government approves a tax it seldom gets removed. I'm sure they'll find something to spend it on. :twisted:

_________________
If you voted for the Dems don't be surprised when things don't turn out quite as you were led to expect. Some might call it pure Marxism. But the problem with Obama economics is there's not enough money in the world to make it work.


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