BILL: Let’s get real about the Medicaid reform

I looked forward with some trepidation to Dr. Stark’s article. As a surgeon he sees Medicaid from the provider’s side but as a doctor his patient concern provides an important perspective. As a person associated with the Mountain States Policy Center, a conservative group, Dr. Stark’s opinion is perhaps slanted in that direction. This can mean that we agree on the issue but not the recommended solution. His first couple of paragraphs do raise appropriate questions.

The basis of the bill is an extension of the 2017 tax relief which includes significant changes to Medicaid. Dr. Stark then claims those who oppose the changes are seeing “cuts” to Medicaid as exaggerated. If we remove the hyperbole up to this point, we hold a similar understanding. His analysis and suggested fix are where we disagree.

The Billionaire Tax Cut bill slashes $880 billion in Medicaid and funding for food stamps. That is quite clear to me. “Only convoluted accounting would define an increase in spending as a “cut” Dr. Stark states. Perhaps reduced increases in future years means slower growth but $880 billion is gone. Keep in mind Medicaid is essentially for lower income people. Many of these people are seniors, physically disabled and children who need help. Most every article I have read indicates about 70% of able-bodied people on Medicaid work. The basic concept of health care is that healthier people need less future health care. Medicaid does have problems. Perhaps Dr. Stark is providing his personal description of the problems while writing a prescription that falls short of addressing the problems.

PHIL WARD

Coeur d’Alene