A fight could be brewing over expanding Medicaid coverage, one of the tentpoles of Gov. Bill Walker’s campaign.
Just as Valerie Davidson, Walker’s Health and Social Services commissioner and a leading proponent of accepting the expansion under Obamacare, was delivering an impassioned speech in support of accepting federal funds to extend coverage to an estimated 40,000 low-income Alaskans, lawmakers two floors up had a very different idea about how things will go.
“We’re not headed for Medicaid expansion,” said Sen. Pete Kelly, the co-chair of the powerful Senate Finance Committee. “And if you asked me for a vote, I’d vote no. But my mind is completely open.” The Fairbanks Republican explained that his mind is open specifically to the advice of Bill Streur, the commissioner of Health and Social Services under the former Gov. Sean Parnell.
The committee on Thursday hired Streur for $45,000 to consult on the Medicaid expansion and other issues during the session. Kelly, while singing Streur’s praises during the meeting, repeatedly stated his opposition to Medicaid expansion, but said he’s willing to listen to Streur.
“I came to a conclusion (against Medicaid expansion) and I might be wrong and if I’m wrong I need to know it and I’m perfectly willing to reverse myself,” he said. “He (Streur) may have some ideas that can convince us that we can find some savings through Medicaid expansion. I’ve never believed that.”
“Medicaid is extremely complicated,” he said. “Whether people should be on Medicaid services or not, or whether it’s being abused or not doesn’t matter. If we reduce it even a little bit we better make sure we proceed in a fashion that protects Alaskans … but we must address Medicaid.”
See Full Article at NewsMiner.com
image credit msnbc.com
