Arrow-right Camera
Subscribe now

Why snub Medicaid?

Why would the governor and the Legislature choose to forgo expanded Medicaid when Idaho can add 100,000 of its citizens to the Medicaid rolls and cut our expenditures by nearly $1 million a year?

That’s right. According to the Milliman Report, commissioned by the Governor’s Medicaid Expansion Workgroup, we can insure 100,000 more people and save, at a minimum, $10 million over the next 10 years. That alone should make this a no-brainer.

But wait, there’s more. The Milliman Report did not take into consideration the economic impact of the additional Medicaid spending. However, the Idaho Hospital Association did. They found that expanded Medicaid would add over $600 million to Idaho economic activity and tax revenues over the next 10 years. Furthermore, it will add 16,000 jobs across the economy.

So, I have to ask, how can responsible Idaho leaders turn their back on a program that will save us money, provide medical care to an additional 100,000 vulnerable Idaho citizens and add 16,000 new jobs? If you don’t like the social benefits, just focus on the economic. This is a jobs program bigger than anything Idaho has done in years. That’s why we need to do it.

Bob Wynhausen

Sandpoint



Letters policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Fax
(509) 459-3815

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy