Political Update – January 30, 2018
A cycle of dependency: more than half of able-bodied Medicaid enrollees are not working
Thursday, January 18, 2018
LAS VEGAS, NV — Over 50 percent of Medicaid enrollees who are capable of working did not work a single hour in 2015, the clearest sign yet that the program is profoundly failing its members.
Medicaid has transformed from a critical safety net for the most vulnerable members of society into a program that encourages dependency and erodes self-sufficiency, according to NPRI policy analyst Daniel Honchariw.
“Medicaid is supposed to provide a safety net for those who are unable to help themselves — an admirable goal,” says Honchariw. “Unfortunately, as the system currently works, it actually encourages many able-bodied adults to stay out of the workforce.
“As a result, the program isn’t just draining public finances, it’s eroding the self-sufficiency of those it’s purportedly supposed to be trying to help.”
Thankfully, Nevada can adopt policies that address this very issue, as well as a slew of other reforms that will reduce health care costs for Nevadans while providing patients with greater choice and access, according to a newly published study by the Nevada Policy Research Institute.
The in-depth study by Nevada Policy Research Institute Visiting Scholar Dr. Roger Stark, MD, FACS, details how the Trump Administration and state leadership can direct a much-needed overhaul of the nation’s broken health care system — without waiting on Congress.
“From tort reform to promoting ‘telemedicine,’ there’s plenty Nevada can do to improve health care for patients and taxpayers without relying on highly partisan politicians in Washington DC,” said Honchariw.
Quote of the week
Quote:
"Over 50 percent of Medicaid enrollees who are capable of working did not work a single hour in 2015, the clearest sign yet that the program is profoundly failing its members." - NPRI,
January 18th, 2018
CHIP vote shows hypocrisy of Rosen, Democrats
By Victor Joecks
Las Vegas Review-Journal
January 19, 2018
Either Democrats don’t believe their own rhetoric or they want children to die.
That’s the state of American politics with a government shutdown looming as of this writing. On Thursday, the House passed a temporary spending measure and six years of funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Although Republicans have a 51-49 majority in the upper chamber, Senate rules require a spending bill to get 60 votes.
Keystone's Mission:
To recruit, support and advocate for candidates for public office who support
private sector job creation, low taxation, a responsible regulatory environment, and effective delivery of essential state services.
Keystone's Mission:
To focus on candidate support on state legislative races and the governor's office.
• To oppose any form of corporate income taxes or other business taxes that discourage capital investment and therefore job creation.
• Support limiting Nevada state government spending to the rate of population growth
