Arizona could lose $1.6 billion in stimulus money

I was very surprised to see a story like this occur in my home state of Arizona. Unlike some of the other Republican governors, our new governor has been very receptive of receiving aid to help curb the largest deficit in state history. Now I come to find out that we are too tough on the eligibility requirements for our state health care program and so we stand to lose a significant chunk of stimulus money allocated to us. I find this to be a big problem because ultimately it will cause those in need of medical assistance to receive inadequate help. I can remember a few years ago when the former governor was testifying before Congress offering how our state health care system could be made into a nationalized program that all states could utilize effectively. I definitely can see the merit in the federal government's decision to make sure that Arizona is not restricting its care to patients by forcing them to requalify for assistance twice a year instead of once. I guess the ultimatum the government has delivered the state will bring about change in that we cannot afford to not do what we can to get this money into the system. Ultimately a rule and eligibility requirement change is the most likely solution to the problem despite what the new governor will try to do through the appeals process.