OUTSIDE GROUPS ATTACK UTAH HEALTHCARE EXPANSION WITH FALSE ARGUMENTS

by Paul Gibbs

As we get closer and closer to the possibility of a special legislative session to resolve the Medicaid expansion issue in Utah, opponents of expansion are getting increasingly desperate. And they're relying on outside groups that are making the same misleading, cookie-cutter claims to fight expansion in all states. Instead of looking at the reality of Utah's situation, they're simply tossing out the same silly and paranoid claims

Despite what groups like the Libertas Institute and the Koch brothers Americans For Prosperity claim,  refusing federal Medicaid expansion money in Utah will do nothing to decrease federal spending. The money the people of Utah are already paying in taxes will go toward Medicaid expansion in other states. It will still get spent,just not to help people in Utah.  Opponents are also using inflammatory and inaccurate terms such as “sick tax” to describe the proposed tax to be paid by healthcare providers.  This is a ridiculously misleading term, as no proposal has been made to tax "sick" people, only the healthcare industry which will benefit from the expansion. Their argument is misleading and leaves out important facts.  The new plan would reimburse providers at a higher rate than traditional Medicaid, and the financial benefit of the revenue coming in would outweigh any expenditure from the tax.  What rejecting healthcare expansion in Utah will do is leave 53,000 people with no reasonable access to necessary healthcare coverage, and keep Utah taxes going to the federal government without us receiving anything in return. 

 The stories of Utahns like Carol Frisby show us just how serious this issue is. The only way to get these people the help the need is to implement a plan which will return the maximum possible federal funding by covering up to 138% federal poverty level. Don't believe the propaganda coming from these groups that are willing to let people die just to score some points against Barack Obama. These groups don't represent Utah or its values, and they simply aren't telling the truth.