1. Many Medicaid Patients Could Face Higher Fees Under a Proposed Federal Policy The New York Times Robert Pear January 22, 2013 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/23/health/medicaid-patients-could-face-higher-fees-under-a-proposed-federal- policy.html?ref=policy&_r=0

2. Summary A proposed federal policy will cause low- income people to pay more for health care The policy gives states the power to increase co-payments and misc. charges on medicaid patients Under the proposal a family of three making $30,000 a year may have to pay $1,500 in premiums and co-payments per month.

3. Summary The intent of the policy is to tempt states into expanding their Medicade program while also reducing the costs the government has to pay. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 allowed about 10 million, previously ineligible, Americans, access to Medicaid. The Supreme Court gave states the option to expand their Medicade program.

4. Skepticism Barbara K. Tomar (director of federal affairs, ACEP) said the administration did not adequately define “nonemergency services” It’s just a way to reduce payments to physicians and hospitals from the government. The administration has not found a reliable source of information about people who have employer-sponsored health insurance. The subsidy eligibility is easily exploitable

5. Economics Total coverage Price Demand for health care Supply for health care Subsidy

6. Economics If the proposal passes Medicare patients will technically have to pay more short-term; however they will be eligible to apply for various government subsidies This means lower cost for Medicare patients long- term but higher taxation in the states that choose to expand their Medicare program People with affordable coverage from employers will more than likely be ineligible for subsidies

7. Conclusion The proposal will increase the amount of Americans covered by health insurance At the same time the proposal can be easily exploited Come January of 2014 it will be required by law for most Americans to have health insurance