“Republicans in the Senate are wasting time introducing these alternatives to expanding Medicaid in Michigan and providing health care to more than 400,000 Michiganders who currently go without. Considering these plans could jeopardize finishing the expansion in time. The House already passed its plan, House Bill 4714, which would accept federal dollars and save our state about $200 million a year for 10 years. Not only do these alternatives reject federal money, making Michigan even more of a donor state to the federal government, the high-deductible plans and health savings accounts put too high a burden on low-income workers. The House is ready to get to work on the Senate version of HB 4714 so that we can keep the process moving and get a reasonable bill to Gov. Rick Snyder’s desk for his signature.”
