Medicaid Conflict Research Paper

The Medicaid Conflict: Federal and State
POL201: American National Government
August 12, 2013

Medicaid: Federal and State
Currently there is a heated debate that has been brewing between the federal government and the states over the implementation of the Medicaid expansion that is set to begin in 2014. The recent ruling of the Supreme Court gave the states freedom to opt out of implementing the expansion. The Medicaid expansion stands as an example of why the Constitutional Framework of Federalism is vital in defining boundaries that often seem blurred, between the federal government and the states.
The Medicaid expansion is attached to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that is set to take effect January 1, 2014. It is
In doing this, an additional seventeen million will become eligible at the start of the expansion. (Richardson, 2013). After putting into effect the Medicaid expansion program in 2014, the federal government would begin by covering 100% until 2016. In the subsequent years, the federal government will reduce that percentage to 90% by the target date of 2016. The effectiveness of a policy is the end result of whether it achieves its intended goal. In the situation of the Medicaid expansion, the intentional goal has already met with resistance. At this time, the intended amount of people that will receive healthcare under the Medicaid expansion will not be reached. Another source of resistance within the country is the growing number of doctors or medical establishments that are discontinuing accepting Medicaid patients. The question still remains of will the reformation of the Medicaid system be a success? The complete total effectiveness of the policy will depend on the level of participation from each
Without instilling the Medicaid expansion within the states, the numbers of people would remain uninsured and without healthcare. The Medicaid expansion is set to start in 2014 and will be funded by the federal government 100% to every state that is participating throughout the startup period. As a result of the expansion, more adults will be able to receive healthcare they were previously not able to obtain. In trying to formulate a more systematic healthcare for the nation, it faces the challenge of the varying Medicaid eligibility each state has. Another challenge in producing a uniform system is that states with higher levels of poverty will have a higher percentage of additional participants within the Medicaid expansion program. The states with a lower levels of poverty will have a lower percentage of additional participants. The final negative factor in the expansion might be if a state opts in but later decides to back out or if the federal funding stops. The Supreme Court ruling does not make previsions for that situation and states run the risk of losing total funding for their Medicaid program. One of the trustees that was appointed by President Barack Obama gave a warning to the states he or she felt it was a “near certainty” government support would likely be cut in the future. (Ingram, 2013). If this were to become a