Hospital manager says Idaho needs to expand Medicaid
“The Idaho legislature needs to expand Medicaid,” says the Mountain Division Chief Medical Officer of the Hospital Corporation of America.
HCA operates Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Dr. Michael Baumann spoke to the I.F. City Club today. He says expanding Medicaid should have nothing to do with politics.
“You need to talk to your legislature and talk about let’s not make this a Republican of Democrat issue. Let’s make it about the people who aren’t getting the healthcare they need, and those who are not getting the care that they need, by the time they show up, it’s even more costly. So why don’t we provide the access up front through Medicaid expansion?” says Dr. Baumann.
Baumann is a graduate of Skyline High School in Idaho Falls. He says he considers himself a conservative. But when it comes to health care, with all his experience, he told the I.F. City Club he would support universal care in the United States.
“Surprises a lot of people when I say that,” adds Dr. Baumann. ” You know I’m actually fairly conservative, but when it comes to health care, I’m not even sure the right word is ‘liberal.’ I’m just really open to the fact we need change.”
Dr. Baumann says the U.S. spends more money on healthcare than any other industrialized nation. But we have the highest infant mortality rate and the greatest obesity rate. He says it’s time to take health care out of politics.
