Brownback decision to return Obamacare dollars applauded

Wow, what an amazing turn of events that has occurred since my first newsletter, “Let The Madness Begin” on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) in Kansas.

First of all, I applaud Governor Brownback’s courageous decision to send the $31.5 million Early Innovator Grant back to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. His determination that he had been ill advised in his acceptance of the grant in February shows that he is willing to listen to the good folks in Kansas. And yes, it appears that the grassroots in Kansas is alive and well!

Here’s a big thank to all of you who took the time to contact your Representative, call the Lt. Governor’s office or shared my newsletters with your friends, whatever action you took to help encourage the Republican leadership in Topeka to reconsider their actions on this most important issue facing our state and nation, again thank you.

I took some hits for taking a public stand on opposing the acceptance of the Early Innovator Grant. I was told that I should “work behind the scenes”.

Because I did not heed that advice and after being interviewed on the Greg Knapp show and the Kris Kobach show on 710 Radio I was removed from the Insurance and Financial Institutions Interim Committee by Speaker O’Neal.

You may read our email conversation from July 7th when I requested an appointment on the committee to July 20th when I was removed by going to this link

I still have concerns and they are as follows:

1. According to Legislative Research there are millions of dollars worth contracts pending that were to be paid for by the Early Innovator Grant. My question, what is the status of those contracts and if they are to be awarded before the next legislative session, from what revenue sources are they being funded? In other words, have we simply changed the name, but not the game?

2. Insurance Commissioner, Sandy Praeger, must return the “Kansas Health Benefits Exchange Planning Grant from which the Kansas Insurance Department received a $1 million grant from HHS to begin statewide planning process through September 2011 to identify issues and make decisions related to a Kansas state-based health insurance exchange part.

3. Of the implementation requirements under the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) which begins in January 2014”

4. www.ksinsurance.org/consumers/ healthreform/EXCHANGE_PLANNING_GRANT _APPLICATION_NARRATIVE_08-31-2010.pdf

5. So, there’s still work to be done and vigilance must be maintained. I am convinced that change in our state and nation will not and really cannot come from inside, too much business as usual attitude. It’s up to each of us to continue to put pressure on all our elected officials to make the right policy decisions.

Please keep me in your prayers and I want to share scripture that has sustained me in this battle, Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

P.S. I’ve capitulated and joined Facebook, so if you want to “friend” me, just note in your friend request that you’re on my newsletter list. I like to know how I’m connected to folks who I’m “friends” with on Facebook.

 

Please keep me in your prayers.
Respectfully yours,

 

Charlotte O’Hara