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PW passes Medicaid resolution
If it hadn't started out as controversial political rhetoric at a Tea Party rally, it's likely no one would have noticed Prince William's new resolution on Medicaid.
In a party-line vote, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors opted Tuesday to implement its own take on healthcare.
Republican Chairman Corey Stewart's proposal directs the county staff to collect information about the local cost of federal healthcare reform.
Had he not earlier threatened to stymie the Medicaid program in Prince William County, the resolution would probably have been adopted in relative obscurity, one of dozens of requests for information the board regularly issues.
Originally, however, Stewart said he planned to “direct our county staff to refuse to administer the new Medicaid benefits” passed under the recent federal healthcare reform law.
“It’s up to each and every one of us, when we see wrong, to stand up and say not only 'no' but 'hell no, we’re not going to do it; we’re not going to go there.'” he told a Tea Party rally on April 10 in Stafford.
That raised all types of alarm bells with political and advocacy groups, lawyers, residents and the media.
But after residents, fellow supervisors, the county attorney and county executive put in their two cents, the resolution was watered down considerably.
What was actually adopted on Tuesday was a resolution directing staff to find out what the impact of the Medicaid expansion will be and to encourage state and federal officials to cover the county government's share of the costs.
The resolution does contain some political rhetoric. It refers to the new Medicaid beneficiaries as a “less-sensitive population” and orders staff to “estimate the magnitude of the reduction of available healthcare options for the Medicaid population” in the county.
Beyond that, however, the resolution primarily seeks information and an end to unfunded mandates, which supervisors often rail against on other issues.
County Executive Melissa Peacor said on Tuesday that she is okay with the resolution.
“I don't look at it as a waste of (staff) resources,” she said. “Just the opposite.”
Medicaid is a federal program but it is the localities' responsibility to administer it.
That means local governments must pay for the staffers who determine eligibility and handle other paperwork.
The healthcare reform law, which doesn't kick in until 2014 in any case, could mean that more residents are entitled to Medicaid. That may in turn mean that more staffers are needed to handle the influx.
Stewart's concern is that the county will have to lay off other employees in order to hire more Medicaid administrators.
That may or may not happen but Peacor said knowing the possible impact will be helpful as she and her staff prepare budgets for the future.
She's also hoping that county officials will be able to lobby the federal and state governments for help.
Peacor said she interprets the resolution to be a message that says “This is going to cost local governments money and you haven't taken that into consideration.”
She noted that the federal legislation only provides aid at a state level and she said the resolution may lend some lobbying or PR power to the plight of local governments.
“And perhaps they will (take us into consideration) and perhaps that will help us,” she said.
In addition to collecting information, the resolution also orders staffers to tell state and federal officials that “unless additional resources are found ... Prince William County will be forced to raise taxes on county residents or slash strategic services” in order to pay for the Medicaid expansion.
The resolution passed 6-2 with both Democrats -- John Jenkins of Neabsco and Frank Principi of Woodbridge -- objecting.
Several of the Republican supervisors stood behind the resolution but went out of their way to ensure there was no misunderstanding -- the resolution has nothing to do with Stewart's previous “opt-out” speeches.
“We're not saying anything about the underlying (healthcare reform) policy,” said Occoquan Supervisor Mike May (R).
Coles Supervisor Marty Nohe (R) also questioned County Attorney Angela Horan to ensure that she has no issue with the resolution.
“I believe this resolution is within your authority, sir, and I see no liability attached to it,” she responded.
She added under further questioning that it is not a challenge to the federal healthcare reform law and is not setting the county up to “opt-out” of Medicaid.
“That would be a very different resolution and I would have to look at that very closely,” she said.
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