The House Subcommittee on Health met to discuss a bill sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) that would increase federal funding given to states for Medicaid. According to Rep. Pallone, over 60 million Americans currently rely on Medicaid for their health care. Pallone said fiscal pressure on states, coupled with the state of the economy, is causing more Americans to seek Medicaid’s assistance. By protecting Medicaid, Pallone said Congress would be protecting Americans’ access to medical care while securing jobs in health care nationwide.

Pallone said his bill is similar to an economic stimulus plan put forth by the Republican Congress in 2003 and signed by President Bush. Both legislation call for temporary increases in funding that help prevent states from cutting Medicaid services and creates the possibility of states reinstating abandoned programs. Democrats on the subcommittee, concerned over health care accessibility and declines in a faltering economy, expressed their desire to retain social services for low-income Americans.

Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) criticized the actions of Pallone’s bill. He said 40 states experienced budget shortfalls when Congress increased Medicaid allocations in fiscal year 2003, contrasting that number with the 29 states that face budget short falls in fiscal year 2008. Burgess said the subcommittee is failing to address critical energy issues.

In an effort to reform Medicaid funding, James Frogue of the Center for Health Transformation advocated using the internet to make states more accountable for their spending. Frogue cited a New York Times article that called 40 percent of Medicaid claims in New York State into question. Frogue said Congress should verify that states are using funds responsibly prior to allocating additional funds.

Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) allocating $15 billion additional tax dollars towards Medicaid without increasing accountability concerns him, saying Medicaid funding needs reform instead of superficial measures that will not fix “entitlement spending.” (0:46)

 

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Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) promotes increasing federal funding to state Medicaid programs by saying that jobs in health care are put at risk when states are forced to cut their Medicaid programs, causing increased unemployment and economic instability. (0:34)

 

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Building a stronger public health system in the United States was the agenda today for the Trust America’s Health report that came out today. In the report recommends investment in more nutrition for America’s children. According to the report this would cost a total of $16 billion over a period of five years. (more…)

Opening a super market is a good way to prevent health problems and bring a community together, says Larry Cohen, Founder and Executive Direction of the Prevention Institute. (1:00)

 

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Founder of Every Child Matters Michael Petit says that millions of U.S. children lack access to health care. Petit says that the child investment gap is costing America billions of dollars in productivity and that children are lacking the opportunity to make the most of their lives. Petit notes that Americans want more investment in their children and that the government has a moral responsibility towards providing for health, education and safety of children. (0:58)

 

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Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) spoke today at the League of United Latin American Citizens about the changes he would make in his first year as president, calling comprehensive immigration and health care reform his top priorities.

Obama said that the United States cannot afford the Bush economic policies that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will be following, but need to give tax breaks to ordinary working Americans, not outsource American jobs, solve the housing crisis and invest in infrastructure that will create jobs and make the U.S. competitive for the future in a global market.

America doesn’t need a government that will solve all their problems. Obama said that Latinos embody the spirit of the American dream and that America has nothing to fear from new comers because America was always a land of immigrants. Obama stressed the need to treat immigrants and new citizens equally so as not to create “two classes of citizens.”

Obama praised Latin Americans for their hard work and desire to live the American dream. He urged Latinos to register to vote and to become active in government at a grassroots level, so that the people will create a comprehensive government that works for all Americans, “a government that represents all not some.” Sen. Obama also spoke on how McCain changed views on immigration reform, creating a comprehensive plan but then failed to vote for it. America needs a president who is not going to walk away from comprehensive reforms if it becomes unpopular, Obama said, and that is his top priority in the first year of his presidency.

Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center Marcia Greenberger states that our current health care system fails to meet the basic needs of women. Many are forced to choose between feeding their children and buying prescription drugs, staying with an abusive spouse and losing health insurance and even between losing their home and losing their battle with cancer. (1:00)

 

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Reg Weaver, President of the National Education Association (NEA) says that it is shameful to have 9 million children without health care insurance. He states that providing health care for children improves performance in schools, which better prepares them for the working world later in life. (:41)

 

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Presumptive presidential nominee John McCain speaking at the League for United Latin American Citizens. He says that he has a plan that will make healthcare both affordable and portable, by making the insurance companies lower their prices and compete with each other. (0:29)

 

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