The Michigan Senate last week adjourned for the summer without taking a vote on Medicaid expansion. The AARP is joining a growing list of groups calling for the Senate to put the bill up for a vote before the end of August.

June 25, 2013

LANSING, Mich. - The AARP of Michigan is joining a long list of groups urging state Senate Republicans to go back to the Capitol and vote on Medicaid expansion. The Senate adjourned for its summer recess last week before voting on a bill that would make nearly a half-million Michigan residents eligible for Medicaid.

According to Lisa Cooper, AARP Michigan's manager of advocacy, Senate Republicans are playing politics with people's lives.

"We know it saves lives and we know it saves money," she declared. "So there's no logical reason for the Senate to block a vote on this, and there's no legal reason, there's no moral reason. The only reason is a political reason. And that is, I think, a very sad commentary."

Cooper said Medicaid expansion would save Michigan businesses and residents about 3 percent on their health-care and insurance bills.

"And that's because this would reduce some of the hugely-expensive uncompensated care in the current system," she asserted. "It would finally allow us to get a handle on some of these health-care costs that have just been rising and rising."

The Senate is scheduled to return to full session in Lansing at the end of August.

Rob South, Public News Service - MI