Friday, November 18th, 2011 - 11:38
Friday, November 18, 2011 - 10:29
The Supreme Court agreed to consider arguments from the group of 26 states that health reform's Medicaid expansion is unconstitutional.
While the Supreme Court's decision to hear arguments against the individual mandate in health reform has received the vast majority of coverage, a decision regarding the expansion of Medicaid could have an even greater impact, according to The Washington Post..
The states sueing the federal government say the huge expansion in Medicaid -- roughly 17 million additional Americans are expected to gain coverage through the expansion -- essentially holds them hostage to the federal government's decision. Previous decisions have upheld the federal government's prerogative to change the Medicaid program since it's a voluntary program that states aren't forced to participate in. But states now argue that the amount of money is so large in health reform that they don't really have a choice.
Under health reform, Medicaid would cover childless adults up to 133 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. The expansion would account for roughly half of the Americans who are expected to gain coverage under health reform. The rest will gain coverage through state insurance exchanges, and will get subsidies to help pay for the coverage if they meet certain income requirements.
