Thread by @ASlavitt

Here’s a lawsuit that has nothing to do with the law or health or common sense.

I used to run Medicare & the vaccine program so I have a point of view.

“States sue to block vaccine mandates for health care workers from Medicare.” 1/

themissouritimes.com/missouri-sues-…

Medicare has the unquestioned right to determine which care providers are in the program very simply because Medicare pays the bills.

Just like the DoD can make the rules for which defense contractors they contract with. 2/

To do this, Medicare has conditions of participation for hospitals and nursing homes to provide care to beneficiaries.

If you can’t keep beneficiaries safe or provide quality care then Medicare won’t want beneficiaries risking their lives. 3/

Those conditions are published and objective. One condition is having a vaccinated workforce so older and disabled Americans who Medicare looks after aren’t at risk. 4/

The AG in Missouri, fresh from unsuccessfully trying to take health care from people in the ACA and failing at that, now wants anybody to be able to treat Medicare beneficiaries without standard.

Unsurprisingly, he doesn’t manage to mention the law because no law applies. 5/

Oddly his lawsuit violates the first principles of capitalism and freedom.

The power of the purse is kind of the underpinning of capitalism. I’m wondering how the AG would feel if he HAD to hire a certain babysitter even if she refused to shut off the TV or learn CPR. 6/

That robs people of freedom. Where are his principles? 7/

(Answers welcome.)

This flag wavy, out of focus, sloppy, press conference-lawsuit hurts seniors, hurts taxpayers, hurts patients, hurts the government and even hurts the cause of freedom and capitalism and has no legal standing.

Sounds like a foundation to seek even higher office. /end