We have the choice to expand health

We have the choice to expand health care in our state to 250,000 more people, which would help treat those with mental illnesses and the uninsured who currently can’t afford care. The decision rests with our state Legislature, and it shouldn’t involve partisan politics.

The Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, provides federal money to expand Medicaid coverage to treat more patients, allowing many people for the first time to receive mental-health services, vaccines, cancer screenings and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. This is an incredible deal. It could save our state $225 million in the next two years and create nearly 10,000 jobs.

The people we see every day can’t afford for us to not improve their care. Taxpayers can’t continue to fund the broken system.

It’s time for us to get serious about fixing a community crisis and start providing the care our neighbors deserve. Medicaid expansion is the right choice for our state.

Bill Hobson, left, is the executive director of Downtown Emergency Service Center. Paul Tipps is a residential counselor at the center and a member of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.