If a state ever deprived its residents of a necessity like food or water, we would demand the federal government’s urgent intervention. If the malnutrition and suffering that followed disproportionately hurt certain populations, we would call this an issue of justice and equity.
For the past seven years, not one state, but a dozen, have refused to expand Medicaid coverage to people under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), denying millions access to affordable healthcare coverage. In most countries, access to health care—like access to food and water—is properly regarded as a fundamental human right. Yet neither generous federal financial incentives, evidence of the health benefits of Medicaid expansion, nor the worst pandemic in a century have persuaded these states to change course. Waiting for them to act is no longer a viable option. It is time for a robust federal response to expand Medicaid in these 12 states.
The above is an excerpt of a piece originally published in The Hill.
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