Moderate Republicans, Dems should unite
If there is serious interest in improving the health care of the American people, the moderates of the Republican Party should involve the Democrats to do all that Trump promised during the campaign, with a focus on insurance for everybody, cheaper and better — some very good objectives. The problem of getting that accomplished was that Democrats were shut out of the development of that effort.
However, there are enough moderate Republicans and plenty of willing Democrats to put together a bill that would achieve those objectives and improve the health care of the American people — again, if that is really the goal.
TRUMAN A. MOORE, ATLANTA
Medicaid should have been expanded
With regards to Greg Bluestein’s article (“Georgia to explore Medicaid changes after GOP health plan’s implosion,” March 27), it was disheartening to read that no significant changes are expected this year. Per multiple accounts, the General Assembly was poised to enact a proposal put forth by the Georgia Chamber to expand Medicaid during the 2017 legislative session had Clinton won the election. Those plans were put on indefinite hold on Nov. 9, as Trump’s election all but assured the death of the ACA. After the events of last week, the ACA is still “the law of the land” and around “for the foreseeable future.” If the ACA is around to stay, we should give it the best chance to succeed by implementing it the way it was envisioned, by expanding Medicaid to fill the gap of uninsured persons who make more than the poverty line, but unsurprisingly cannot afford private insurance of the marketplace with their $16,000 annual salaries. Instead, we will debate Medicaid waiver plans as we wait for the 2018 General Assembly to convene, a full year in which more rural hospitals will close and public county hospitals will continue to absorb the financial burdens of the uninsured.
ABHI KOLE, ATLANTA PHYSICIAN
