Our View

Our View

Obamacare still threatening to swell out of control

Any concerned Arkansas taxpayer who has been keeping up with the problems and rising costs of the state’s version of Obamacare, now called Arkansas Works, probably don’t know what to think of the latest news that the number of Arkansans taking advantage of this government subsidy is now swelled to above 290,000.

Just from February through April, 25,000 more socalled “poor” or “needy” Arkansans were approved for free or subsidized health care, that beginning next year will cost Arkansas taxpayers 5 percent of the Medicaid expenditures that right now is being fully subsidized by the federal government. And, by 2020 Arkansas taxpayers will be forced to come up with 20 percent of the Medicaid costs.

It was just during this recent special session of the Legislature that lawmakers passed Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s plan to continue health care for the poor.

Hutchinson has made it clear that ending Medicaid expansion in Arkansas would crate a budget hole of more than $100 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Currently, the federal government uses our tax dollars to pay for the lion’s share of the cost to provide this free or greatly subsidized health care for the state’s growing number of “poor” Arkansans.

The growing problem of dealing with the number of Arkansans seeking this government subsidy has resulted in the Department of Human Services Director Cindy Gillespie developing plans to seek legislative approval to hire a “surge” of about 250 temporary caseworkers to help clear a backlog of work related to 100,000 Medicaid cases, including more than 34,000 applications for coverage that have been pending for more than 45 days.

In addition, she said DHS hopes to spend about $2.6 million on a contract to provide more computer programmers.

An $875,000 contract with the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care would provide more workers at a call center to handle questions from applicants and recipients.

In all, the effort would cost about $8.5 million, with $2 million coming from state funds and the rest coming from the federal government.

While the number of Arkansans are flocking to sign up for this government subsidized health care so is the cost and while these politicians in Little Rock seem to think they have financial matters under control we see the day fast approaching when we, as taxpayers, will be facing another Medicaid financial crisis.

Let us remind everyone once again that with the nearly 3 million Arkansans, and the nearly 300,000 of them classified as “poor”, it is inevitable that those footing the tab for all this so-called “free” health care may just say they are tapped out.

This is because those capable of paying for their own health insurance have learned a long time ago that this Obama scam called “Affordable Health Care” isn’t so affordable, their premiums are getting out of control, their prescription drugs are costing more and many treatments that were previous covered by insurance are no longer available.

BIBLE VERSE

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct [2] his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

11:2-9

Proverbs