As expected, the Feds in the form of CMS and HHS approved with some conditions the Healthy PA this is not really Medicaid Expansion, Medicaid Expansion waiver this afternoon. I have a game in a couple of minutes so here are the highlights.
- Go Live is January 1, 2015
- Expected to cover between a quarter and half a million people.
- Significant changes to current Medicaid in the form of collapsing various programs into far fewer groups, and different co-pay structures.
- Health Incentive/Wellness incentives in the form of lower co-pays
- No deductibles
- Premiums will be charged in 2016 and beyond for people making more than 100% FPL
- Work requirements watered down
More later
BGinCHI
When will this tyrannical nightmare of basic healthcare coverage end!
/wingnut
rikyrah
I know you didn’t agree with me, but I thought HHS shoulda just waited until after November.
geg6
@rikyrah:
Corbett is dead meat no matter what. This will not save him. It’s just one of many issues which we citizens of the commonwealth want to hold that bastard’s feet to the fire for. Draconian education cuts, his handling of the Jerry Sandusky case as AG, refusing an extraction tax on Marcellus gas drillers, the gutting of all environmental agencies and regulations, drilling in state forests and parks, lack of jobs and high unemployment, horrible on women’s issues of every kind and anti-same sex marriage. I know I’m missing a few other of his negatives, but you get the picture.
Pa Tom
Geg6 is right. Corbett has spent a ton of money this summer attacking Wolfe but has not budged in the polls . The race is looking like Santorum’s last race. The challenger is likable and has no real negatives and no votes to run against. Meanwhile everyone has already decided what they thing about the incumbent.
Roger Moore
@rikyrah:
If it’s supposed to help the people who need healthcare, it should be approved before open enrollment starts. That means it has less political effect, but as geg6 says, Corbett is in deep trouble anyway.
Davis X. Machina
You can’t begin a blog post “Good News Everybody” and not do it up right…
patrick II
I don’t think it is such good news. It is not as good as just straight medicaid, and It sets a starting bargaining position for the remaining states who have not yet allowed medicare. In the short run it enrolls more people, in the long run less people at greater expense to them and to the system.
Chris T.
How long until some Republicans running in PA accuse Obama of watering down the work requirements?