Texas Gov. Rick Perry won't expand medicaid

Perry says expanding Medicaid would force the state to add millions of Texans 'into the already unsustainable Medicaid program.'

|
LM Otero/AP/File
In this June 7 photo, Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks during the Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth, Texas.

Gov. Rick Perry says Texas won't implement a state insurance exchange or expand Medicaid, two key elements of the federal health care overhaul.

Perry said in a statement Monday that he was sending a letter to the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary to tell her of the state's decision. Most of the federal health care law was upheld by the Supreme Court last month.

Perry says expanding Medicaid would force the state to add millions of Texans "into the already unsustainable Medicaid program."

He says, "I will not be party to socializing health care and bankrupting my state in direct contradiction to our Constitution."

If states chose not to implement an exchange, the federal government will implement it.

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.
Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.
The Christian Science Monitor was founded in 1908 to lift the standard of journalism and uplift humanity. We aim to “speak the truth in love.” Our goal is not to tell you what to think, but to give you the essential knowledge and understanding to come to your own intelligent conclusions. Join us in this mission by subscribing.
QR Code to Texas Gov. Rick Perry won't expand medicaid
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0709/Texas-Gov.-Rick-Perry-won-t-expand-medicaid
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe