This week will see a major budget battle as we head towards what could be a possible government shutdown. The issue is Medicaid. The law is precise about what Medicaid covers: cancer screenings and kidney transplants, for example, but not other services. In 2024 we spent $2.3 trillion in federal support for health services. Where does it go?
More than half of us have had someone in our family use Medicaid, whether it was for a poor child, disabled person, or nursing home costs for an elderly adult, to name a few. One approach suggested is to pay doctors less for the services; that would result in doctors refusing Medicaid patients.
Our health care “system” is no system at all, but a hodge podge of various programs and insurances, much of which really doesn’t cover how expensive health care is. We have the most expensive health care but not the best health care in the world. It’s time to look at real solutions, but this Congress probably won’t.
Prayer for the Day
You call us to care for our brothers and sisters, O God,
But we’re too caught up in buying what we want;
You call us to feed the poor and house the homeless, O Lord,
But Congress wants to give tax breaks to the wealthy.
Wake us up, O Holy One, for we are destroying our social fabric,
Caring only for ourselves instead of others in need.
In the name of the One who demands we care,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
This is like presidential campaign rallies, isn’t it? But I’m not running for president, and this is not a campaign. You gotta do what you gotta do. The country’s in trouble and I want to play my role.
Bernie Sanders in Kenosha, Wisconsin
People are desperate to be plugged into action right now. People see the threat. They are anxious and angry and motivated and they want to be sent in a direction to help,
Chris Murphy, U.S. Senator (D-Conn)
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes fathered from thorns, or thistles? In the same way, every tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut on and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Jesus in Matthew 7: 15-20