Thread: Congressmen call on Gov. Rick Perry to expand Medicaid to insure 40K Texas vets

Congressmen call on Gov. Rick Perry to expand Medicaid to insure 40K Texas vets

By Marty Schladen \ Austin Bureauelpasotimes.com
Posted: 06/02/2013 12:03:08 AM MDT

AUSTIN -- U.S. Rep Pete Gallego and 10 others are calling on Gov. Rick Perry to accept an expansion of Medicaid so that tens of thousands of Texas veterans can have health insurance.

Reporter Marty Schladen

Gallego letter to the governor on Friday that criticized him for saying that he supported Texas veterans while refusing an expansion of Medicaid that would make almost 50,000 of them eligible for health insurance."The Saturday preceding Memorial Day, you participated in a joint session with the Texas House and Texas Senate to honor Texas heroes," states the letter, obtained on Friday by the Times. "You noted, 'There is absolutely no disagreement about the importance of honoring America's fallen heroes. Let's never forget the debt we owe all of those who served, not just on Memorial Day, but every day of the year.' "

The governor has steadfastly refused to expand Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act even though it would insure an estimated 1.5 million Texans who don't have coverage now. In the regular session that ended Memorial Day, the Republican Legislature passed a law prohibiting Perry from accepting an expansion without its approval."Gov. Perry and a majority of the Texas Legislature have sent the very clear message that they do not support expanding Medicaid under Obama care," Josh Havens, the governor's spokesman, said in an email.

The U.S. Supreme Court last year ruled that Medicaid expansion is optional for states. Perry and other Republican leaders say it will crash a system that already is broken, while their critics say they oppose it simply because President Barack Obama is for it.Tom Banning, CEO of the Academy of Texas Family Physicians, said the state has great power to structure Medicaid, so that Perry is disingenuous when he complains the system is broken.
"If the program's broken, we broke it," he said.
Texas has the highest proportion of uninsured residents of any state and El Paso has the fourth-highest rate of any city. The University Medical Center, a public hospital, estimates that 135,000 of the county's 230,000 uninsured residents would gain coverage under a Medicaid expansion.
The expansion would offer Medicaid to uninsured people working at low-wage jobs -- individuals earning less than $15,500 and families of three making less than $26,300.
In his letter to Perry, Gallego cited a March study by the Urban Institute that estimated 49,000 uninsured Texas veterans would be eligible for Medicaid under an expansion -- more than any other state.
Gallego is a freshman Democrat who is on the House Armed Services Committee and represents a huge West Texas district, which includes much of the Lower Valley.
Also signing his letter to Perry were Democratic U.S. Reps. Beto O'Rourke of El Paso, who is on the Veterans Affairs Committee, and Joaquin Castro of San Antonio who, with Gallego, is on the Armed Services Committee.
Nine other Democrats signed the letter as well.
In it, the congressmen implied that Perry was a hypo crite for saying the country has a debt to veterans, but then refusing to participate in a federal program that would provide thousands with health care.
"Our servicemen and servicewomen put their lives on the line and sacrifice so much for our freedom," the letter said. "They deserve much more than lofty rhetoric alone."
Gallego was traveling back from Afghanistan during the weekend and not available for comment.
But Castro also slammed Perry for not accepting a Medicaid expansion.
"The study cited in the letter shows us what we already know: As the state with the highest percentage of uninsured folks, Texas has the most to gain from participating in a program we are already paying for," he said in a statement. "With the special session underway in the Texas Legislature, the governor has a chance to ensure that millions of Texans, including 49,000 of our military veterans, have access to quality health care. We know this can be done and hope Governor Perry does the right thing."
Not all veterans are eligible for benefits through the Veterans Administration, and the hassle can be too great for some who are.
"Priority and access are based on service-related disabilities, income level and other factors," the Urban Institute report said. "This means that many low-income veterans are eligible for VA health care, but lack of proximity to VA facilities or lack of knowledge that VA care is available could keep some eligible veterans from enrolling."
Xavier Munoz is part of an El Paso family practice that mostly cares for patients on Medicaid or Medicare or who don't have insurance. He said he sees some veterans who complain of the wait and the bureaucracy in the VA system.
Munoz said he doesn't charge some patients who can't pay.
"What can you do?" he asked. "These people need to be seen."
If Perry would agree to expand Medicaid, people would be healthier and more productive, Munoz said.
Instead of expanding Medicaid, Perry has said he wants to create a system that has co-payments, deductibles and medical savings accounts.
Banning, of the Academy of Texas Family Physicians, said that's a good discussion to have.
"But all we're doing right now is just saying no," he said.
Marty Schladen may be reached at mschladen@elpasotimes.com; 512-479-6606.
　
　
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_23371340/congressmen-call-gov-rick-perry-expand-medicaid-insure

http://www.alipac.us/f9/republican-v...nsured-279883/

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