Thursday, July 8, 2010

Medicaid Health Care Benefits and the Michigan Budget

"The biggest wrench stuck in the gears of Michigan’s state budget is the Medicaid health care benefits program for the poor. Without additional Medicaid funds from the federal government, Michigan faces a $560 million shortfall for the budget year beginning October 1.

If you’re lucky enough to not be on Medicaid and think it simply doesn’t concern you, think again.

Medicaid concerns everyone in Michigan. Why and how? ...

Nearly 25 cents of every dollar in the state general fund budget goes to Medicaid — more than $2 billion in state tax revenues overall, with another $8-9 billion in federal tax dollars. Like the prison budget, Medicaid crowds out all kinds of other state priorities, from the desire for low taxes to the desires for environmental protection, low college tuition, healthy downtowns, and lots of other things."

www.thecenterformichigan.net/michigans-giant-burden-and-responsibility/