[Milton Miteybad]

What the article doesn't point out, is, after a length of time the federal government money is cut off and the state has to continue the program. If a state gets in it, the state can't get out and has to fork up all the money later. The federal government is saying, “Now you get it, then you don't.”

Exactly. There is no point in accepting the federal money now to expand the state Medicaid rolls, only to have the federal funds disappear in a few short years. The NPR reporter apparently doesn't realize that the federal money will dry up at some point in the future.

Or...if the reporter does understand that reality, he/she apparently chooses to ignore it for reasons that remain unexplained.

[combat_boots]

I guess Texans want a better chance on living prior to 2 years old and/or past 40.