Monica Fowler

Kate Flom

WRD 104

9 June 2013

Medicaid Source’s Analysis

For a hundred plus years in the United States, Democrats have continuously tried to pass

a Medicaid bill. In short, the expansion on Medicaid wants to give free health care to the

American public, among other benefits. To their relatively recent success, President Obama has

signed into legislation said bill in order to finally provide healthcare to all Americans, along with

other benefits. The problem Republicans and others associate with this is the financial cost that

follows this program. As responsible Americans we need to see past the short-term fiscal

problems and envision the long-term benefits Medicaid brings to the table.

Without Medicaid, many Americans would not be able to effectively provide insurance

for themselves and their family. We live in an era were we have all the necessary resources to fix

problems such as not being able to provide a free healthcare program for all, yet some people

want to shut down these programs. Instead of states, mainly Texas, being opposed to the

expansion of Medicaid the state legislation should accept the expansion of Medicaid into their

state. Being in favor of said program, I will illustrate different points that demonstrate why

Medicaid is beneficial to our country, along with the counterargument to my viewpoint.

Alvarez, Lizette. “In Reversal, Florida to Take Health Law’s Medicaid Expansion.” The New

York Times. 20 Feb. 2013. Web. 1 May 2013.

In this New York Times article it discusses how Florida, traditionally a Republican state,

is accepting President Obama’s ACA bill and expanding Medicaid. Alvarez goes into detail on

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how the governor ultimately came to the decision and how he is going to be dealing with

criticism of those who are not in favor of the expansion of Medicaid in Florida. It also goes into

detail on why the governor plans to accept the plan for reasons like: the finical incentives it

brings to the state budget and also for the fact the minority that does not have insurance will be

able to receive health insurance from the recent expansion of Medicaid.

I believe this article supports the movement for the expansion of Medicaid. It fully

demonstrates that people with initially different views are changing their mind. It illustrates

progression from those with opposing views, showing how when they see the benefits Medicaid

can have (especially for the residents of particular states) it can change their mind. It also

illustrates how state officials are handling the opposing opinion with facts and data to support

their decision. Aside from this, this article can be seen as credible because it was published in a

publication that is seen nation wide, getting the word out that state legislation is changing its

mind in favor of the expansion of Medicaid. Overall, I believe it demonstrates that a change in

view point is possible and that more states are likely to full in Florida’s footsteps.

Baird, Heather. “Healthy Compromise: Reconciling Wellness Program Financial Incentives With

Health Care Reform.” Minnesota Law Review (2012); 1490-1561. Academic Search

Complete. Web. 22 April 2013.

In this article Baird overviews the current situation surrounding healthcare reform. She

overviews the Republican’s view, but for the majority of the article she discusses the benefits

that the wellness program (the expansion of Medicaid) brings to Americans. She mainly

discusses the wellness program directly benefiting those in poverty by offering them and their

children free healthcare. Baird explains the advantages of the new wellness program Obama has

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recently put into effect. She also mainly focuses on the incentives companies will receive from

the program.

I choose this article for a couple reasons. For one, Baird clearly explains the incentives

companies will receive, leaving no aspect unexplained. I feel like this informs those opposed and

the big companies to know what to fully expect from the program. It leaves no holes in the

argument for healthcare (especially Medicaid) reform. Baird has a strong legal background,

making her a credible source when it comes down to the nitty gritty of the debate on whether

Medicaid is good for the public. This supports my argument for why Medicaid in America is a

good thing because as previously stated it fills the gaps posed by the counterargument

concerning the finances of wellness programs. I believe that this article helps in answering the

counterargument the opposing side has toward Medicaid and demonstrates why the wellness

programs are a step in the right direction for Americans.

Berman, Micah L. “From Health Care Reform to Public Health Reform.” Journal Of Law,

Medicine & Ethics. (2011); 328-339. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 April 2013.

In this article, Berman overviews different aspects of the newly reformed health care

program. He discusses how the changes made will directly affect the patient (Americans).

Berman describes the cause and effect of the health care reform. He states that the Medicaid

reform is beneficial not only for the capitalistic side of the Medicaid debate, but also the patients

it directly affects. Berman says it causes patient responsibility, which aids the public in two

ways. First, it gives them incentive to care about what is happening with their healthcare. Aside

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from this aspect, it gives Americans healthcare that might not have been available to them

before.

I chose this article for many reasons. For one, it gives factual information on what really

is going on with Medicaid reform. The author, being a doctor, recounts examples from his

practice, making him appeal to the audience on a personal level. Aside from this, being an expect

in his field gives him credibility behind all the information he is writing. This article informs the

audience in the power they have concerning the expansion of Medicaid, hence encouraging them

to be active in current health care events.

Editorial Board. “Report Card on Health Care Reform.” The New York Times. 23 March 2013.

. Web. 22 April 2013.

The article written by an Editorial Board I chose to use because goes over the Republican

viewpoint of the health care reform situation. The article overviews the claims set forth by the

opposing side of Medicaid. It outlines the fact that there is no outlook on how the government

plans to pay for the Medicaid program. It also states that the new Medicaid program is further

putting the United States into a financial crisis. Along with this information, the article also

details a vague outline of when the state legislation will have to take over the portion of the

budget made for Medicaid given by the federal government.

The main reason I chose this article was to demonstrate the counterargument to my

position on Medicaid. In order to have a valid argument, one must acknowledge the opposing

sides claims. By including their viewpoint in my research, it gives me a better basis on the

counterargument as well as a chance to rebuttal their stance. Using their ideas in my final paper

aids me write a stronger argument for my stance and myself.

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Hardeman, Rachel R. “Doula Care, Birth Outcomes, and Cost Among Medicaid Beneficiaries.”

American Journal of Public Health (2013); 1209-e9. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1

May 2013.

In the duration of the article, Hardeman compares doula care (standard of care among

health professionals) and birth outcomes from those who are currently on the new Medicaid bill.

Hardeman goes into depth in explaining the data she has collected and the statistics behind

caesarian births. She later explains how Doula Care plays a factor into birthing outcomes and

Medicaid. Among other statistics she compares how babies whose mothers are on Medicaid have

a better chance at being healthy and without illness than those babies whose mothers are not.

For my final persuasive paper the stance I took is for Texas state legislation to accept the

expansion of Medicaid offered by the federal government. Hardeman explains that the babies

born from mothers who used Medicaid were less likely to have health problems and be a

financial drain on our country’s finances. Yes Medicaid is expensive, but this is a short-term

viewpoint. In the long run, the costs will diminish and overall benefit all. The article uses

experimental data to prove their thesis, making it very credible. Aside from the data used,

Hardeman is a medical scientist that explains her credentials before her thesis, making her a

credible author discussing Doula Care.

Harle, Christopher A. “Florida Doctors Seeing Medicaid Patients Show Broad Interest In Federal

Incentives For Adopting Electronic Health Records.” Journal of Health and Medicine,

This article brings a different perspective in the mix. Doctors perform a survey on current

Floridian doctors to see if joining in on Medicaid actually benefits their practice. The conclusion

the doctors drew from the survey is in reality many doctors are in favor of Medicaid. For one, it

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allows them to branch off and do research by the funds coming from the Medicaid program.

Aside from this, it allows them to expand their patient horizon and be able to see more patients.

I believe this article has a lot to offer on the debate toward Medicaid. For one, the survey

was completed, analyzed and published by credible doctors, giving their results the credibility

they well deserve. Aside from this, it brings a less heard perspective into the argument: the actual

doctors treating the patients. By hearing that doctors treating patients on Medicaid actually want

to it throws out the myth that all doctors will not stand for Medicaid.

Landers, Renee M. “Medicaid Expansion Under the 2010 Health Care Reform Legislation.”

NAELA Journal (2011); 143-164. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 May 2013.

In this article, the author mainly discusses how Medicaid (through the Affordable Care

Act) offers access to health insurance and medical care for the poor, regardless of their financial

stability in the United States. Landers focuses more so on how Medicaid has changed from the

past to now. Along with this, she describes the incentives the Americans are getting, especially

stating how those who could not afford health insurance are now in better shape.

I mainly chose this article for two reasons. For one, it gives the perspective of those who

benefit from Medicaid. Often in the expansion of Medicaid debate the voice of the public is lost

in a sea of political jargon. By Landers giving the perspective of her clients, it brings everything

back to home, which is where everything should be centered. Aside from this, Landers is a

lawyer and advocate of those who come from poverty. She has credibility in her field and

sympathy of those people who find themselves in similar positions like her clients.

Pollack, A. Harold. “State Medicaid Policy and Health Reform”. Journal of Health Politics,

Policy and Law. (2012); 150-163. Academic Search Complete. Web. 5 May 2013.

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In this article Pollack, like other people in his political discourse community, overview the

Medicaid program and the new expansion of said program. Coming from a law and economist

viewpoint, Pollack states the facts about the financial aspect of Medicaid. After he asserts his

claim that the expansion of Medicaid is good for America by listing the incentives the states

receive from the state when accepting the Medicaid program and also how states will be able to

fund Medicaid in the long run.

I choose this article for a few different reasons. For one, his law and economist

background give him the credibility to be able to go discuss Medicaid thoroughly because his

expertise stems from this background. Also, he includes statistics for the states not only

providing data to support his claim, but also to prove that Medicaid is a good thing for this

country. Aside from this, Pollack states the opposing sides arguments and rebuttals with logic

and data, making his claim even stronger.

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