Deborah Bachrach Interviewed on States Opting to Expand Medicaid
"Is GOP Starting to See Medicaid Expansion as Smart for Fiscal and Public Health?"
Government Health IT
February 27, 2013 - Manatt's Deborah Bachrach, a partner in the firm's Healthcare Division, spoke to Government Health IT about why states will likely decide to expand Medicaid coverage.
Government Health IT reports that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is the latest Republican who staunchly opposed the health reform law to participate in Medicaid expansion. He explained that the money would have been allocated elsewhere, to expand Medicaid in other states.
"When the dust clears and they examine the numbers in the light of day, I think most states will find it's advantageous to expand Medicaid enrollees, because not only will it bring coverage to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of their citizens, but it will bring many new federal dollars into their state," said Bachrach.
For the first three years, the federal government will pay 100 percent of the bill for Medicaid expansion. In 2020, it will reduce its portion to 90 percent, which has states opposed to expansion due to concerns about where the remaining money will come from.
Bachrach, however, expects more states to change course in the days ahead, following Christie.
"Whatever the cost in 2020, which would be 10 percent of covering these new adults, the savings these states will be able to secure by withdrawing funds for covering uninsured citizens - there's your foundation for coverage," said Bachrach. "History suggests states will go for it."