Report: Texas Needs Health Coverage Plan in 2017 to Avoid $1.3 Billion Cut in 2018

You already know that by turning down federal Medicaid expansion funding our state leaders are making line cooks and child care teachers sicker, making families poorer, and making our economy weaker. A new report by the Center for Public Policy Priorities now shows that if our state leaders don't take action on health care in 2017, the consequences are going to escalate.

As the Houston Chronicle's business columnist recently warned, the federal government is cutting back on covering hospital bills for uninsured patients, instead offering funding for states to get those patients insured in the first place. If state leaders refuse to transition to this more efficient health care finance system, in 2018 alone Texas communities could face a cut of $1.3 billion in 1115 Medicaid Waiver funds for hospitals' "Uncompensated Care" and local "DSRIP" health projects.

All the details, including county-by-county figures, are available in the new report.

Fortunately, state leaders can avoid these losses and support Texas families by either expanding Medicaid or developing a market-oriented plan to ensure that low-wage workers have an affordable health insurance option.