Texas health officials are negotiating with the Obama administration about accepting funding available through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for a Medicaid reform program, according to a Politico report.
The program — called Community First Choice — would enhance the quality of care available to elderly and disabled patients, according to the report. The state legislature approved the initiative earlier this year, and Gov. Rick Perry signed it into law. State officials are now working toward getting approval from the federal government to integrate the new program into the Texas Medicaid system. The state could receive roughly $100 million in extra Medicaid funding for Community First Choice through the PPACA, according to the report.
This development is somewhat unexpected given Gov. Perry's strong criticism of the PPACA and his vows not to implement its reform provisions, according to the report.
Gov. Perry has opposed Medicaid expansion under the reform law, stating in an address to state lawmakers in April that the idea is "misguided, and ultimately doomed." He argued only three in 10 Texas physicians accept new Medicaid patients, which he fears would shrink if more newly eligible Medicaid patients flooded the market. Medicaid currently accounts for 25 percent of the state budget.
Additionally, Texas House representatives voted to ban the state legislature from expanding the Medicaid program in May. The state Senate passed a similar bill.
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