| The New York Times reported on 2-19-10 that virtually | | | | worst case, hospitals and physicians will only accept |
| every state is making or planning significant cuts in | | | | new patients on the basis of proof of ability to pay. |
| Medicaid benefits. These actions are taking place while | | | | Health care policy in American will become "no cash, |
| demand for Medicaid grows. This entitlement, originally | | | | no care". Tens of millions of Americans will have zero |
| conceived as a support for those in lower | | | | access to quality medical services. |
| socioeconomic classes and disabled persons, now is a | | | | We're veering sharply in the direction of a society of |
| necessary lifeline for those formerly in middle income | | | | medical haves and have-nots in which there is no |
| groups who have lost their jobs. Medicaid enrollment | | | | middle ground, no available safety net. Public health |
| soared by 7.5% from June 2008 to June 2009 (3.3 | | | | disasters will rapidly befall such a society, disasters that |
| million new enrollees). The 2009-2010 increase is | | | | will not spare those fortunate enough to have "good |
| expected to be even larger. | | | | benefits". As millions of Americans, particularly |
| The American health care crisis is not a doomsday | | | | low-income children, become less well, they will |
| scenario concocted by shrill socialist Chicken Littles. | | | | become breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses, and |
| State governments can't afford to pay their health | | | | parasites. The deadly diseases of the past - |
| care bills. It's not surprising that individual Americans | | | | tuberculosis, diphtheria, and whooping cough - will return |
| can't afford to pay for health insurance and are | | | | with great force. New infections will arise as a |
| dropping coverage by the millions. | | | | weakened population makes it easier for |
| The Medicaid news is the canary in the coal mine. | | | | microorganisms to take hold. Diseases with the |
| When the canary dies, it's time to pack up your gear | | | | pathogenicity of HIV will race through communities and |
| and get out. In terms of health care, the demise of | | | | cities, spreading from region to region. Neither |
| Medicaid is the clearest possible signal that the entire | | | | Republicans nor Democrats, neither Red states nor |
| edifice is about to come crashing down. | | | | Blue states, will be spared from this public health |
| States can't pay Medicaid bills. Hospitals and physicians | | | | implosion. |
| will lose substantial revenues. Many hospitals will file for | | | | American was formerly the land of opportunity. |
| bankruptcy. Others will drastically reduce services, | | | | Thanks to congressional obstructionism and the |
| starting with community assistance programs. | | | | national mood of me-firstism, American will soon be |
| Physicians will discontinue participation in Medicaid in | | | | the land of opportunistic infections. |
| frantic attempts to regain financial solvency. In the | | | | |