Government
Medicaid buy-in proposed
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 14, 2005
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R, Iowa) and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D, Mass.) have reintroduced legislation that would allow families of children with disabilities to buy into Medicaid if they make too much money to qualify for the program.
The bill, which passed the Senate last year, is designed to encourage parents to continue working even if it will place them outside the income range eligible for Medicaid benefits.
"Many parents of disabled children have to drop out of the work force or keep themselves in a low-paying job just to remain eligible for Medicaid. In effect, the government is forcing parents to choose between near-poverty and their children's health care," Grassley said.
Parents would pay into the program on a sliding scale based on their income. For children with disabilities, Medicaid offers comprehensive coverage for things such as physical therapy and medical equipment, which often are not paid for by private health insurance.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/02/14/gvbf0214.htm.
