Beshear ends Bevin's Medicaid limits

Moscow Matt Bevin had a pretty stupid idea of what Medicaid is supposed to be about. Although Medicaid is not welfare, Bevin tried to institute a work requirement to receive this benefit. Courts laughed in his face repeatedly - because the requirement was illegal.

I knew it would be a moot point the next time an adult became either governor or President. The Trump regime issued an illegal waiver to permit Bevin's work rule, but a real President was sure to revoke the waiver someday.

Now, newly elected Gov. Andy Beshear has revoked Bevin's order. This restores access to Medicaid that the courts hadn't already restored. Not only did Bevin institute work rules, but he also began charging Medicaid patients significant fees for treatment. Bevin even took away dental and vision coverage from many adult patients. Those changes are gone now.

Beshear said at a news conference, "I believe healthcare is a basic human right." This fact never used to be in doubt before the hard freeze of rightism suppressed this view.

Ending Moscow Matt's Medicaid limits is both good politics and good policy.