Here & Now: Medicaid Changes

Major changes to Medicaid health coverage means millions of Texans will see their healthcare impacted. The American Medical Association says the new Medicaid rules will hurt not only those with Medicaid, but all of us. The president of the AMA is in this week's Here and Now Conversation with Fox 4's Sean Rapp. This week in the Here and Now Conversation, important information that you need to know. About changes coming to the Medicaid program, millions of Texans receive Medicaid and then children of course are in the CHIP program. I'm joined by Dr. Willie Underwood III, who is the president of the American Medical Association. And Dr. Underwood, let's talk about the changes and the impact that's going to have on folks who are covered with Medicaid. Those who are on Medicaid will be impacted directly, but those who are not on Medicaid will also be impacted. So those who are on Medicaid, To maintain their coverage, if you're 19 to 64 years of age, you're going to have to meet the work requirements. That's 80 hours a month, over $500 a month of employment. So that means you have to get a job, you have to have someone who will sign off on this and document this. But what if you have disabilities, chronic medical conditions, and you can't work? Then you're going to have to see a physician every six months to certify that you're unable to work. But not only that though, rural hospitals, urban hospitals. Yes, rural hospitals, especially in Texas where we've had some already closing. Correct. They will lose funding. Due to the $100 billion a year removed from the system, so Texas will have to figure out how to maintain these hospitals and subsidize these. But not only that, the millions of people that will be kicked off of Medicaid, they still will be sick. So they will go to these hospitals and the hospitals will have to provide uncompensated care. Adding to their financial losses. In areas like Dallas County, where there's a county hospital here in Dallas County, Tarrant County, those hospitals would see an increase in uninsured patients? Correct, and it's uncompensated care. Now, what are you going to do? Turn people away, not see them? No, they can't do that even legally, even if you don't know anyone on Medicaid. This will potentially impact you. But there are resources available on the AMA website where people can go and get information and try to figure out their health steps. So we must understand how these changes will impact us. Those are those who are on Medicaid. The AMA has resources on the website to help you understand these changes. And what you can do if you lose your coverage. The AMA wants to make sure that we do not That people do not lose their healthcare coverage because they don't understand the new rules, or they missed the paperwork deadlines. I think there's going to be a lot of confusion as this new law rolls out. And I think we're going to see people, if you will, step into the shadows away from healthcare for those who don't have coverage anymore. And that could lead to delaying in diagnosis to care, or even people not ever receiving treatment and dying unnecessarily. All right, Dr. Willie Underwood III is president of the American Medical Association, sounding the alarm about the pending changes to the Medicaid program across our country. Thank you for your time today. Thank you very much, and thank you for those who are listening.