Tim Hogan, JD, executive director of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest, has asked the Arizona Supreme Court to reinstate full funding for the state's Medicaid program, according to an East Valley Tribune report.
Earlier this month, the Arizona Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision to not block cuts to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. The decision came against a voter-approved ballot measure in 2000 that expanded Medicaid enrollment to all Arizona residents living below the federal poverty level.
The Court of Appeals said it is up to lawmakers to determine if funds are available for the program and that they cannot step on "the complexities of decision-making and priority-setting that go into managing a state's budget," according to the report.
However, Mr. Hogan argued the voter-approved initiative cannot be ignored. "[The issue] is about whether the voters have established a mandatory duty on the part of the state to provide healthcare benefits to individuals with incomes below the federal poverty level and, if so, whether the state has breached that duty," Hogan said in the report.
Earlier this month, the Arizona Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision to not block cuts to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. The decision came against a voter-approved ballot measure in 2000 that expanded Medicaid enrollment to all Arizona residents living below the federal poverty level.
The Court of Appeals said it is up to lawmakers to determine if funds are available for the program and that they cannot step on "the complexities of decision-making and priority-setting that go into managing a state's budget," according to the report.
However, Mr. Hogan argued the voter-approved initiative cannot be ignored. "[The issue] is about whether the voters have established a mandatory duty on the part of the state to provide healthcare benefits to individuals with incomes below the federal poverty level and, if so, whether the state has breached that duty," Hogan said in the report.
Related Articles on Arizona Medicaid:
Arizona Appeals Court Upholds Medicaid Cuts
Arizona Hospital Association Sues State Over Medicaid Cuts
CMS Approves Arizona's Plan to Cut Medicaid Payments by 5%