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With Health Care Reform Affirmed, Texas Legislature Must Come to the Table Next

Posted byHoumanitarian

(Shefali Luthra, Texas Tribune)
In the wake of Thursday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding federal health reform, Texas has two big choices to make: whether to accept federal funds to expand Medicaid, and whether to roll out a consumer marketplace for comparing and purchasing insurance coverage.

While the Supreme Court found the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of Medicaid constitutional, it held that states can’t be penalized by the federal government if they choose not to accept federal funding and do it. Republican Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who sued the federal government over “Obamacare” on Texas’ behalf, said it’s not yet clear whether Texas will opt out of the expansion — and the associated funding.

“That is a policy decision the policy-makers in Austin are going to have to make,” he said.

But in a statement, outgoing Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner Tom Suehs left the door wide open for rejecting the federal funds, saying he was “pleased” that the Supreme Court gave states “more ability to push back” against the Medicaid expansion.

The Affordable Care Act requires every state to have a health insurance exchange — a kind of Orbitz for medical coverage — and says that if states don’t do it, they’ll get a one-size-fits-all federal plan instead.

In a conference call on Thursday, Abbott said he’s unsure if and how Texas will set up an exchange, but that Texas will have to “move swiftly.” “That will have to be hammered out in the coming weeks and months,” he said.

Last session, efforts to lay the groundwork for a Texas health insurance exchange were rebuffed by the state’s Republican leadership — even when one key House Republican crafted the legislation. Now, time is of the essence, and the Legislature doesn’t meet again until January.  (Read the full story at Texas Tribune)

ADDITIONAL LOCAL COVERAGE & OPINION:
TX Attorney General Reacts To Healthcare Ruling (KUHF Public Radio)
After Supreme Court’s Ruling, What’s Next for Texas? (KHOU 11 News)
Impact of Supreme Court’s Health Care Decision (KTRK 13 News)
Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Law: Now What? (Baker Institute Blog)
Steffy: Businesses Out of Health Care Excuses (Houston Chronicle)

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