Medicaid Waste Grows : Politicians Deaf & Dumb

Medicaid is a nightmare of waste and the total indulgence of politicians to support it for political gain. What this author has done here is an exercise in common sense.

The bottom line is the federal government has no idea what is best for the people and how they will use an means necessary to maintain their collective control over the lives of millions that are disadvantaged, and millions more that have to pay the bills are to lazy, misinformed or just plan ignorant to stop them.

Only 20 to 40 Cents of Each Medicaid Dollar Benefits Recipients
Source: John R. Graham, "Only 20 to 40 Cents of Each Medicaid Dollar Benefits Recipients" Providence Journal, August 16, 2015.

August 21, 2015

Medicaid is jointly funded by state and federal governments. It grows regardless of the state of the economy and its main purpose is to help those without enough income to pay for their medical care, says senior fellow John R. Graham of the National Center for Policy Analysis.

However, a study conducted in 2008 in Oregon found out that:

• Medicaid increased the use of health services and reduced the risk of large out-of-pocket medical expenses.
• Nevertheless, it did not improve mortality of any physical health measure.
• Of a figure of $1,576 only $465 was directly related to health care. The rest only freed up resources for other types of consumption.
• The net cost to taxpayers was $1,374 per recipient.
• The amount of government spending that was simply transferred to providers was $2,222.
• Yet Medicaid spending keeps growing, and is much larger than other welfare programs.

The author concludes that Medicaid spending should be reduced and the funds converted to vouchers instead of being paid to providers directly, says Graham.