HHS in Flint
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The disaster in Flint is following the usual GOP governance story arc: Trash it. Hide it. Deny it. Let the feds clean it up.
A couple of HHS’ efforts highlight the fact that Gov. Rick “I am firmly pro-life” Snyder’s decision to poison 90,000 human beings will take decades to put right.
Head Start and Early Head Start services will expand immediately in Flint, Michigan to help children and families exposed to lead in the city’s water supply. The expansion was made possible through one-time emergency funds of $3.6 million and is one of several steps HHS is taking as the agency designated to lead the federal response and recovery effort in Flint.
Michigan will expand Medicaid coverage to children up to age 21 and pregnant women who were served by the Flint water system from April 2014 up to a date specified by the Governor, and who have incomes up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). Michigan will also set up a state program allowing pregnant women and children up to age 21 who were served by the Flint water system and individuals with incomes above 400 percent of FPL to purchase unsubsidized coverage. This comprehensive health and developmental coverage includes lead-blood level monitoring and behavioral health services, among other services.
Combined with his union-bashing work, poisoning a city full of poor and black people, blaming it on the fed and getting the fed to pick up the tab will make him a dead cert. for the GOP nomination in 2020, should he decide to run. He’d probably point to the money spent to help Flint’s residents as an example of big government waste.
