Two Sununus Oppose Medicaid Expansion in NH - Granite Grok

Two Sununus Oppose Medicaid Expansion in NH

medicade- Looks refreshing, but always comes back to haunt you laterIf you search “Medicaid” in that search bar in the top right corner of the page, you will find a wealth of information (exposition, links, and so one) as to why we should not expand Medicaid in New Hampshire.  (Just two days ago we had a great discussion with Jenn Coffey about it on GrokTALK!)

If that is not enough reason, how about this?  Michael and James Sununu, yes those Sununu’s, have penned an excellent summation of the current situation; why we should not be expanding Medicaid in NH, and why Republicans of all people, in the State Senate in particular, should not be leading on expansion.  Here’s a snippet.

Supporters of expansion say we have to reduce the uninsured population. They argue the cost of the uninsured is too high and by insuring them through the government (albeit through taxpayer support for private insurance premiums) we will lower the overall cost of health care. Except available evidence shows us it doesn’t work. Maine expanded Medicaid coverage in 2002 for the same reason, but it was a huge failure. Before expansion, 12 percent of their population was uninsured. After Medicaid expansion? Still, 12 percent uninsured. Markets adjust when government gets more involved, so while Medicaid rolls expanded, private insurance rolls fell, costing taxpayers and businesses more money.

The notion that “we need to do something” seems to have been hatched and nurtured inside Concord’s version of the Beltway.  The first attempt at Medicaid Expansion died last year, and there was hardly an outcry from the general public. Yet Senate Republicans still feel they have to pass a “compromise” that is in reality a bad deal. What’s worse is that in the future, if the program doesn’t live up to expectations it will be almost impossible to pull the plug. A sunset provision is nice, but only if you have the nerve to let it sunset – and political “Profiles in Courage” are pretty scarce in Concord these days.

For the sake of argument, though, let’s add some political context. In 2012, the Republican nominee for President was in the difficult position of having supported a large government intervention into health care in his state and could not aggressively attack Obamacare. But the unfolding Obamacare disaster will be front and center in the 2014 elections. New Hampshire Republicans should be pointing out the folly of large-scale interventions in health care, not strapping themselves to the mast of a sinking ship because they are afraid Ray Buckley will accuse them of class warfare. Bulletin: Ray Buckley will accuse Republicans of that no matter what.

New Hampshire’s corner office has lacked leadership and direction for far too long. Senate Republicans have often been the only bulwark against bad public policy, and deserve credit for such victories as a responsible budget and limiting regulatory overreach. They should continue this approach with Medicaid expansion and say “not this policy, not right now.”

There are plenty of great points before this excerpt, so please check out the entire article.

H/T Susan Olsen – FB

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