Unemployed Pennsylvanians on Medicaid could lose health coverage under proposed bill
The proposed legislation -- House Bill 2138 -- cleared the House floor on a 115-80 vote. All but five
Its prime sponsor,
But critics -- including health care patient advocates and Democratic Gov.
"We're calling on the
Wolf did not go so far as to say he would veto H.B. 2138, but he said through a spokesman Tuesday night that he opposes the bill and will protect vulnerable populations "from these Republican political attacks."
"Pennsylvania
Specifically, H.B. 2138 directs the state
The Trump administration -- which granted permission for states to do so in January -- has approved three such waivers so far, in
"This is not a back-door attempt to do anything by the Trump administration or by the
Under H.B. 2138, healthy adults on Medicaid must have at least a part-time job, complete 20 weeks or more of job training or complete 12 job training-related activities in a month.
Exemptions from the work requirements would apply to the following types of people:
--High school students;
--People who receive temporary or long-term disability benefits;
--People under age 19 or older than 65 (the age at which most people qualify for Medicare);
--Pregnant women;
--Primary caregivers to children under 6;
--Primary caregivers to the terminally ill;
--Social Security Income beneficiaries;
--Individuals who live in mental health institutions or correctional institutions; and
--Individuals experiencing a serious or temporary medical condition that prohibits work or a crisis, including domestic violence or a substance abuse disorder.
Critics like Krause fear that even people who meet the work requirements or exemptions could lose their coverage while having difficulty completing the necessary paperwork to prove it.
The
"The department shares the goal of helping the individuals we serve become self-sufficient, but we must ensure that people can access the health care they need to get and stay healthy to find work," DHS Secretary
Dowling dismissed the
"The taxpayers are willing to make a small sacrifice in tax dollars to ensure that those who truly need medical aid are the ones that are benefitting from their taxes," Dowling said.
Fifty-one percent of the state's able-bodied Medicaid recipients do not work, according to Dowling's office.
Wolf vetoed a bill last fall that contained a similar requirement.
Dowling said his latest bill is a simplified version that includes more exemptions, such as caregivers of people in hospice care.
"I think it will clear the
"I'm not a proponent of running a bill just for show or political antics," Dowling said. "In running this, I truly do hope that it becomes law and that the governor will see the amount of work that we did to build in exemptions."
Medicaid, originally designed for poor families and the severely disabled, has become the country's largest government health insurance program, helping 1 in 5 people.
The Associated Press contributed.
___
(c)2018 The Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.)
Visit The Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.) at www.triblive.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Outlook for Real Estate Industry for Rest of 2018 is Promising, Says Latest ULI Real Estate Economic Forecast; Survey of Economists Suggests Boost from Federal Tax Reform Law
A.M. BestTV at RIMS: Data and Analytics Leaders Reveal Their Biggest Challenge: Show Me the ROI
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News