The American Spectator

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Obamacare's Toll on the States

By Philip Klein on 10.14.09 @ 6:05PM

The Chattanooga Times reports that Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen is concerned about the burden that Democratic health care proposals could put on Tennessee:

NASHVILLE - Gov. Phil Bredesen warned Tuesday that pending federal health care legislation could cost Tennessee far more than the $735 million "best estimate" his administration previously has cited.

The $735 million would stretch over five years, but "in addition, there are huge unknowns for the states in this reform," Gov. Bredesen said, estimating that those costs, if realized, could exceed another $3 billion from 2014 to 2019.

Among other things, Democratic bills call for a significant expansion of Medicaid, the cost or which would be partially borne by the states. In 1994, Tennessee expanded Medicaid coverage as part of a health care reform effort, but by 2003 its health care system was deemed "not financially viable" in an independent analysis by McKinsey & Co., and Bredesen was forced to rein in the program.

Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, the Union Leader informs us:

New Hampshire's business community would pay $215 million to $229 million to comply with a Democratic-sponsored health care reform bill that has advanced in the House of Representatives, a new study by two conservative economists says.