Perry Medicaid plan would give up $76 billion from federal government
Texas will leave more than $76 billion from the federal government on the table if Gov. Rick Perry gets his wish and the state does not expand its Medicaid program or establish a health insurance exchange in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
But Perry said the two initiatives could bankrupt the state and called them "brazen intrusions to the sovereignty of our state," neither of which would result in better patient protection or more affordable care.
State and federal Republican officials praised his move, saying the legislation could eventually leave the state holding the bag for billions in additional spending.
But the hospital industry and patient-care advocates say taxpayers will have to continue footing the bill for uninsured people, who will seek medical care when they're the sickest and most expensive to treat.
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/07/09/4088572/perry-medicaid-plan-would-give.html#storylink=cpy
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= new reply since forum marked as read
Perry could not be stupider. No wait yes he can. 
I posted this on the other thread but it is just as relevant here:
Texas Observer 7/10/12
Perry’s Titanic Blunder
The governor rejects Medicaid expansion and then embarrasses himself on Fox News
(snip)
But where Perry really got it wrong in the Fox interview was his assertion that “every Texan has health care in this state from the standpoint of being able to have access to healthcare.” That’s like saying that every Texan has food in this state from the standpoint of being able to have access to the grocery store. It doesn’t mean the more than six million Texans who are uninsured can actually afford it. And who but our governor has access to experimental adult stem cell spinal infusions? According to a new study released by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, Texas ranks dead last in health care services and delivery. Texas Medicaid is also one of the most limited and strictest programs in the country. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission projects that the state would actually see a net gain of $70 billion over five years if it expanded its Medicaid program. That sounds like some sort of trick.
In the end it looks like Perry would rather go down with the ship than work with the federal government on health care. And he’s taking millions of uninsured Texans down with him.
Perry is taking millions of uninsured Texans down with him and leaving 76 billion dollars on the table.
Not joining Medicaid expansion will hurt hospitals, clinics and taxpayers, officials say
Hospitals and uninsured residents are likely to be hit the hardest if Gov. Rick Perry's rejection of a massive expansion of Medicaid stands, leaders of health care organizations said.
In addition, clinics that care for the uninsured will be strained further, while taxpayers and patients with health insurance could pay more for health care, they said.
(snip)
But uninsured people will continue to seek care at hospitals, often in emergency rooms, where care is most expensive, and in clinics that serve uninsured people and those on Medicaid, a state-federal program that covers the poor, disabled and most nursing home residents.
"What that means is: Local communities, it's your problem to solve," said Patricia Young Brown, president and CEO of Central Health, the Travis County hospital district. "You can pay a dollar now to keep someone as healthy as possible ... or you're going to pay for it later when they're sick."
Taxpayers could be asked to shoulder more of that burden, she said.
that stupid, stupid, rick perry!
No one lacks insurance and everyone has a photo ID. Perry said so. 
