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SD public defense duties shift from counties to state; SCOTUS appears skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies; Trump lawyers say he can't make bond; new scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

Health Reform Focus now on Arizona Decision-Makers

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Friday, June 29, 2012   

PHOENIX – Arizona's leaders have some big decisions to make now that the U.S. Supreme Court has largely upheld the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Among them are expansion of the state's AHCCCS indigent health care program and creation of a state health insurance exchange. Children's Action Alliance President Dana Naimark says the health reform act is already bringing major benefits to the state.

"There are tax credits available for small businesses, and 60,000 young adults are on their parents' health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act. We already know that children can't be turned away from coverage due to preexisting conditions."

Naimark acknowledges that the idea of expanding AHCCCS will spark political debate, but says there's no debating the value of the program that currently provides health care to more than 600,000 Arizona children. And she points out that the full cost of any new children enrolled in AHCCCS as a result of the ACA will be fully covered by federal funds.

"It is a great deal for Arizona and all of the other states, because it does put federal funds into our economy in an area that is so needed."

State budget analysts say expanding AHCCCS could initially cover an additional 300,000 low-income Arizonans.

Naimark says Arizona is ahead of several other states in implementing health reform, because steps are already being taken to create a health insurance exchange, where people can shop for and purchase their required coverage.

"The planning is underway through the governor's health policy staff, and we look forward to seeing that continue with involvement from consumer groups, from citizens around the state, from folks who really have a stake in how it turns out."

Gov. Jan Brewer will reportedly meet with health-care stakeholders over the next few weeks to decide how to proceed.



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