Fed Up? Governor Perry And Health Care In Texas

One in four living in the state of Texas – about 6.2 million people - are uninsured. It is ranked the lowest in the United States in health care. Governor-supported tort reform in the state didn’t impact health care costs one bit. Oh, and there’s no longer a state Medicaid women’s health program either.

You would like to think that those are the headlines from some third-world nation. However, according to Governor Rick Perry, Texas is doing just fine, thank you very much – so much so that he’s told the federal government that he won’t implement the Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act.

Governor Perry, in his desire to constantly remind us why he’s “Fed Up”, is slowly and steadily painting the health care of this state into a corner.

When it comes to health care, is this the state of Texas, or the state of Confusion?

It is certainly not surprising to hear that Governor Perry has attacked the Affordable Care Act once again. Or, for that matter, the federal government. He has even shared his ideas in a book entitled "Fed Up!: Our Fight to Save America from Washington". The battle cry of Governor Perry has always been “freedom”, and he reminds us of the intent of the founding fathers like he is talking to them directly via a Ouija board.

Perry mentioned in a FOX News interview that "every Texan has health care". This is a vastly over-simplified statement. There are some glaring issues that Perry must face, and hopefully sooner than later.

Tell me, Governor Perry, what happens when the 25% of the state’s population that are uninsured go to the emergency room? Have you calculated the long-term expense of having health care as such? Don’t worry, the data is out there already, just read it. We’re up to 17.9% of GDP and rising, Governor Perry – does that not alarm you?

What about the actual benefits of the Affordable Care Act? Texas will lose out on about $70 billion in federal money over six years if it opts out. State and local governments currently pay about $10.5 billion for uncompensated care at hospitals each year. Again, the data is readily available, and it won’t require an abacus.

If the state of Texas chooses not to set up an online service for comparison shopping for insurance, the federal government will do it for them. Opting out may sound all “freedom-like”, but in effect it is pushing the control towards the federal government.

Oh, wait a second. I am seeing a trend here. This isn’t about “health care policy” at all – because that would require a policy. It would require programs that address the mechanisms of the problem, not a piecemeal, holier-than-thou, incessant 10th amendment-laden diatribe thin on data and high on political spite.

Being a part of the Texas health care system, I am increasingly more fed up with these ridiculous pseudo-pro-freedom rants, the “my way or the highway” mentality, at the expense of our health care. I am fed up  with the Texas football-style end-around being pulled when the word “freedom” is mentioned in the same breath as “health care”. Make that Texas A&M-style – with all due respect to Perry’s alma mater.

In Texas, we are obviously free to make “fiscally-stupid decisions” about health care. We are free to select our own bankruptcy attorney. We are free to live without accessible health care options. People may be uninsured and dying, but they are free nonetheless. Have we forgotten about “life” being one of those unalienable rights?

Governor Perry, they have a saying in this state: Don’t Mess With Texas. The evidence would indicate that the current health care situation in this state is garbage, and it needs to be remedied. Develop a health care policy that reflects the needs of Texans. Go ahead and use freedom as a talking point – as long as it has a practical impact on health care.

You may be Fed Up, sir, but so are we.

Photo credits: Gage Skidmore