Pawlenty changes tune, decides to take $260 million in federal Medicaid aid
September 7, 2010 at 6:14 am in West Central Tribune
ST. PAUL (AP) Gov. Tim Pawlenty has decided to accept about $260 million in federal medical assistance aid after directing state agencies to avoid some federal grants associated with the health care overhaul. Continue Reading
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You are really saying that Pawlenty is not capable of changing his own mind, Harold? He must have been “bought” by Obama?
Which is worse – a Governor who is so stubborn that he can’t be talked to, reasoned with, and possibly change his mind about something… or a Governor who is so easily influenced as to be “bought”, as you put it Harold?
Or could it be that Pawlenty grandstanded his objection in order to garner more republican voter favor… and this little “technicality” about these funds being part of a stimulus, rather than health care reform, allows Pawlenty to accept the money the state needs without losing face??
Nah – I’m sure it’s all about being “bought” by Obama, right Harold?
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Yes according to Harold, Obama is the blame for eveything, even the last eight yrs. Harold’s world shows no irresponsible spending or failure by the GOP. According to the Harolds book on politics, the GOP are the victims. If you notice there are not many people at all that even agree with Harold, this should tell you how radical this guy seems to be. I am sure not even fellow GOP people agree with him.
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Just as I thought. The libs will never take responsibility for anything! Blame Bush, that’s the ticket…It’s going to rain today, that damn Bush!!
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Cool, I heard the President say his lead economic advisor quit today. Good for us. Maybe he’ll appointed someone that knows something about economics and running a business. Doubt it though…his track record of appointments is horrible.
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Nothing in the article about economic advisor quitting today.
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Where are the people who were defending Pawlenty when he turned it down. It must be a bummer, now that they have to eat crow.
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raymond, the next time you want to complain of high healthcare costs and of high health insurance premiums, you may want to review where the money comes from before you speak. The state imposes a fee on healthcare providors and on health insurance premiums, which they use to leverage the amount of money they get from the Federal govt for Medicaid purposes. I don’t know what the current leverage match is but lets say it is 70% fed and 30% state. In this case, the state would have to come up with $111 million to get the $260 million. As you probably do not know that in order to solve the current Medicaid financial crisis here in the state, the state has gotten an agreement with providors to take lower reimbursements to solve the current fund shortage. Since the money will probably be coming in 2011, the state will have to increase fees to the tune of $111 million in order to get the Fed grant. So look for insurers to increase premiums and for providors to raise rates to cover the increased fees the state will impose..
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Isn’t this what the yellers at the town meetings wanted, allowing insurance companies to raise rates without any control? So your solution is spend the money without any government assistance. Seems you really have a problem with Pawlenty!
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raymond, maybe this will give you a more up-to-date leverage basis – Medicaid Spending: In FY 2007, MA expenditures totaled $6.19 billion, of which $3.10 billion was state spending. Looks like the leverage ratio is more like 50 – 50 for that year.
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raymond – might want ot learn a little more of how Medicaid is funded – source of funds, matching of funds from feds and how the funds are spent by the State. Your last post shows the the lack of knowledge of the procedures and how the funding system works in the Medicaid system.
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Seems you still have a problem with Pawlenty! So are you ticked that he is going to accept matching funds or not? Or does just certain states get these matching funds and Minn. should go without.
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