SUPPORTERS of Obamacare argued the law was necessary to reduce the expenses borne by all Americans as the result of cost-shifting that occurs when the uninsured obtain treatment without payment. Now, Obamacare fans argue that the law will achieve major savings for state governments … thanks to cost-shifting.
Some state officials say Oklahoma would “save” about $47.8 million a year if the state accepts the Obamacare-driven expansion of Medicaid. That would shift to the federal government part of the current cost of treating those with mental health problems. Currently, the state pays for treatment through the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Department of Corrections and the state Health Department.
Of course, those savings are all on paper. Oklahomans pay state and federal taxes. Shifting the cost from one side of the ledger sheet to the other doesn’t make any difference for those paying taxes into both columns.
Put another way, if you siphon gas out of your car and into your truck, you aren’t saving money on truck fuel. You’re just refueling your car more often. The fact that Obamacare supporters tout the government-finance version of a siphon hose as a major policy achievement shows just how flawed this law is.
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