By Mary Vought | Blaze Media

It didn’t make national headlines, but the Biden administration recently announced yet another initiative that, despite its good intentions, will have unintended consequences for patients — not to mention taxpayers. This one sees the further expansion of Medicaid to cover liberals’ latest cause du jour.

In late July, North Carolina announced it had received approval from Washington for a Medicaid waiver that the state claims will allow it to relieve up to $4 billion in medical debt. The waiver allows hospitals to receive higher Medicaid reimbursements, provided they agree to relieve outstanding medical debt for patients meeting certain income requirements and also agree to provide discounted and charity care under specified parameters going forward.

Ironically, this government-led “solution” of forgiving debt comes in no small part because of a problem the government helped create in the first place. Like most other states, North Carolina provides paltry Medicaid reimbursements to doctors and hospitals. The Tar Heel State reimburses for primary care at 78% of what Medicare pays. In obstetrics, the rate is even lower, at just 68% of Medicare rates.

[Read more at theblaze.com…]