A better Nebraska

Dear Editor,

A recent column by Dan Hughes highlighted issues he believes exists with the Medicaid Expansion. Sen. Hughes stated that those who collected signatures for the petition were paid to do so without of state money. First, let me say that those who circulated the petition in this area were not paid. Indeed there has been money infused into this project via the Fairness Project. “The Fairness Project bolsters state and city-based ballot initiatives and drives a national narrative to elevate issues of economic fairness. By harnessing the power of successful ballot initiative campaigns, The Fairness Project offers voters the opportunity to do what politicians cannot or will not: take direct action to enact sound economic policy and change in their own lives” www.thefairnessproject.org When the voter is up against the politicians and a very rich governor, this organization assists in putting the people on even ground. Funding was also provided by Nebraska Appleseed and the Nebraska State Education Association. If you recall the death penalty petition was funded primarily by Gov. Ricketts and his family.

Sen. Hughes also says that we will go bankrupt if we expand Medicaid. He is wrong on this issue as well. The evidence-based data shows that this will not be the case. The fact is that without Medicaid expansion the risk continues to grow that rural options for medical care will become non-existent.

One of the many supporters of Medicaid expansion is the Nebraska Hospital Association. Medical care is important for the healthy functioning of our society. Without timely medical care, issues which could be prevented or caught early become much more costly and ultimately many of those folks then must rely on Medicaid for their healthcare or hospitals charge those of us with insurance more to cover all the unpaid care they must provide. For the past seven years, Nebraskans have been paying taxes to the federal government and not getting their fair share back. Our share has been going to other states who wisely expanded Medicaid. There are a number of Medicaid waiver programs which will ensure that our state like the 33 other states who have expanded Medicaid will not go bankrupt. Key findings in a report published by the Kaiser Family Foundation include the following. Research and Data show that: expanded Medicaid has resulted in coverage gains without diverting coverage from traditional groups, expansion positively affects access, utilization, affordability and financial security, positive economic effects and studies also show that expansion resulted in a reduction in uninsured visits and uncompensated care for hospitals, clinics and other providers. Find more on this at kff.org.

133,000 people signed the Medicaid expansion petition. Those people from across the state were Democrats, Republicans and Independents. It is past time that Nebraskans reap the benefits of expanded Medicaid. Senator Hughes didn't bother to back up any of his information with facts – just the rhetoric of those who want to keep people uninsured in the state of Nebraska. An insured population is a healthier population and a healthier population is better for all the residents of Nebraska including Senator Hughes.

Angela Thomas,

McCook, Neb.