Michigan Business and Professional Association Pleased with Senate Committee Support of Medicaid Expansion

WARREN, Mich., July 31, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA) and its sister organization the Michigan Food and Beverage Association (MFBA) strongly support the Senate Government Operations Committee's vote today to back the expansion of Medicaid as provided for by the 2010 federal Affordable Care Act (ACA).

"We are very pleased to see leaders in the Senate join the House and Governor Snyder in supporting measures that may add more than 400,000 uninsured, low-income Michigan residents to the state's Medicaid rolls and bring approximately $2 billion more in Medicaid funding here, saving Michigan roughly $200 million annually," said Jennifer Kluge, MBPA and MFBA President and CEO.  "We are hopeful that this latest action by the Committee will pave the way for final passage by the full Senate when it reconvenes in late August allowing the state to leverage more than $20 billion in federal dollars to flow into Michigan through 2023 and generate $1.2 billion in savings through 2020," she continued.

The expansion of Medicaid provided for by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the way that people who could not otherwise afford health insurance will now qualify for coverage. Under the ACA, the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost through 2016, after which Michigan's cost would gradually increase to 10 percent between 2017 and 2020 and then remain at that level.

The current version before the Senate committee builds on a bill passed by the House of Representatives in June (HB 4714) and applies additional requirements that include: Department of Community Health reviews to ensure the program is cost-effective; incentives for meeting quality, cost and utilization targets; measures to foster healthy behaviors in patients; stronger language on making sure the state doesn't pay more than it's supposed to; and a pharmaceutical benefit plan that encourages the use of high-value, low-cost prescriptions through co-pays. 

Bonnie Bochniak, vice president of Government Relations for MBPA and MFBA, added, "Providing health care benefits to citizens in need is good for business and the future of the state."  She noted that while the MBPA and MFBA did not support the ACA, "We believe it is time to move forward together and guarantee that our state reaps the benefits of this industry changing law."

The Michigan Business and Professional Association boasts a statewide sphere of influence that no other organization of its kind can claim, leveraging a depth of programs and community initiatives that positively impact more than 150,000 businesses. Learn more at www.michbusiness.org.

For Further Information:

Bonnie Bochniak 
(586) 393-8800 Office
(517) 203-9851 Cell

Jennifer Kluge
(586) 393-8800 Office
(586) 202-1441 Cell

Sue Voyles 
(734) 667-2005 Office
(734) 635-3831 Cell

SOURCE Michigan Business and Professional Association