--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One option is to run Medicaid like a…" description: "\"One option is to run Medicaid like a health program - rather than an exercise in political morals - and let states tailor benefits to the individual ne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/scott-gottlieb-6147_health_one-option-is-to-run-medicaid-like-a-hea_926472.jpg" --- # One option is to run Medicaid like a health program… ![“One option is to run Medicaid like a health program - rather than an exercise in political morals - and let states tailor benefits to the individual needs of patients, even if that means abandoning the unworkable myth of 'comprehensive' coverage.” quote by Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/scott-gottlieb-6147_health_one-option-is-to-run-medicaid-like-a-hea_926472.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/scott-gottlieb-6147_health_one-option-is-to-run-medicaid-like-a-hea_926472.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/scott-gottlieb-6147_health_one-option-is-to-run-medicaid-like-a-hea_926472.jpg) > “One option is to run Medicaid like a health program - rather than an exercise in political morals - and let states tailor benefits to the individual needs of patients, even if that means abandoning the unworkable myth of 'comprehensive' coverage.” [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Medicaid should function as a health service, customized to patient needs, rather than a political ideal of universal coverage. **In simple terms:** Treat Medicaid as a health program, not a political symbol. Key Takeaway Focus Medicaid on patient‑centered care. Themes health policy medicaid personalization politics Mood analytical pragmatic Type policy economic When to use this quote - state health planning - patient advocacy - budget allocation Key Concepts public health economics patient autonomy government programs Questions to Reflect On - What are the trade‑offs of tailored versus universal coverage? - How can states balance cost with patient needs? A Different Perspective Comprehensive coverage may be politically popular but financially unsustainable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-program-1474941/) [Medicaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicaid/) [Medicaid Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicaid-like-1474939/) [Morals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morals/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Needs Patients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-patients-1474940/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Run Medicaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/run-medicaid-1474938/) [Tailor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tailor/) ## Related quotes > [Patients would be better off if states were able to tailor the benefits that Medicaid covers - targeting resources to sicker people and giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/patients-would-be-better-off-if-states-were-able-to-tailor-the/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [Make no mistake: Obamacare is a pro-death 'health' program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha-rogers/make-no-mistake-obamacare-is-a-pro-death-health-program/) [Kesha Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha-rogers/) > [I grew up with a lot of dinner table conversations about health care and ways in which the system was inadequate for the needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/risa-j-lavizzo-mourey/i-grew-up-with-a-lot-of-dinner-table-conversations-about-health-care/) [Risa J. Lavizzo-Mourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/risa-j-lavizzo-mourey/) > [In short order, Obamacare is evolving into a Medicaid marketplace. Not only in terms of the design and quality of the narrow-network plans that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/in-short-order-obamacare-is-evolving-into-a-medicaid-marketplace-not/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [The fact is that Medicaid doesn't even serve well the medical needs of people who should be its principal focus - Americans who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/the-fact-is-that-medicaid-doesn-t-even-serve-well-the-medical-needs/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [For one thing, Medicaid is an inefficient if not ineffective platform for redistributing income. It doesn't get the dollars to poor people in forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/for-one-thing-medicaid-is-an-inefficient-if-not-ineffective-platform/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [Even with all its political bells and whistles, the Obamacare plans increasingly resemble Medicaid in terms of networks and drug lists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/even-with-all-its-political-bells-and-whistles-the-obamacare-plans/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [Advocacy groups like Families U.S.A. imagine that once Medicaid becomes a middle-class entitlement, political pressure from middle-class workers will force politicians to address these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/advocacy-groups-like-families-u-s-a-imagine-that-once-medicaid/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [Trying to stretch the mission of a health program like Medicaid, as a way to launder redistributionist goals, ends up serving nobody well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/trying-to-stretch-the-mission-of-a-health-program-like-medicaid-as-a/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [I learned early in my writing career that if I try to tailor a song for someone else, I'm usually off base. They're usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-russell/i-learned-early-in-my-writing-career-that-if-i-try-to-tailor-a-song/) [Brenda Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-russell/) > [It seems like if you are not painted up special way or have some tailor made outfit to put on to go out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/it-seems-like-if-you-are-not-painted-up-special-way-or-have-some/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [Writing for others is great cos you can tailor it for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/writing-for-others-is-great-cos-you-can-tailor-it-for-them/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) > [Love in modern times has been the tailor's best friend. Every suitor of the nineteenth century spends more than his spare cash on personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-augustus-henry-sala/love-in-modern-times-has-been-the-tailor-s-best-friend-every-suitor/) [George Augustus Henry Sala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-augustus-henry-sala/) > [When I was young, I would get my tailor to replicate Madhuri Dixit's costumes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallika-sherawat/when-i-was-young-i-would-get-my-tailor-to-replicate-madhuri-dixit-s/) [Mallika Sherawat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallika-sherawat/) > [The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) ## More by Scott Gottlieb > [Obamacare mandates a largely uniform structure and set of benefits and insurance design across the entire country. It leaves consumers with very little real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/obamacare-mandates-a-largely-uniform-structure-and-set-of-benefits/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [What makes the EpiPen unique is its delivery vehicle - an auto-injector that's packaged in a convenient, pen-like device. The product's key attribute is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/what-makes-the-epipen-unique-is-its-delivery-vehicle-an-auto-injector/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [It's now evident that public health is part of national security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/it-s-now-evident-that-public-health-is-part-of-national-security/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [We need to make sure that access to a curative drug doesn't become a yardstick by which poverty is eventually measured. Doing so requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/we-need-to-make-sure-that-access-to-a-curative-drug-doesn-t-become-a/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [When the price of a drug rises, it becomes profitable and the target of new competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/when-the-price-of-a-drug-rises-it-becomes-profitable-and-the-target/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [Once an effective drug is approved to treat a deadly condition, introducing a second drug to treat the same disease can be hard. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/once-an-effective-drug-is-approved-to-treat-a-deadly-condition/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [At the heart of President Barack Obama's health-care plan is an insurance program funded by taxpayers, administered by Washington, and open to everyone. Modeled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/at-the-heart-of-president-barack-obama-s-health-care-plan-is-an/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [There are two main types of immunity to an infection. Innate immunity comes from circulating cells that attack any invader the body views as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/there-are-two-main-types-of-immunity-to-an-infection-innate-immunity/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [A seductive technology that works like a dream and improves lives will set off a consumer clamor, whether the new tool is an iPhone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/a-seductive-technology-that-works-like-a-dream-and-improves-lives/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [Our Founders thought politicians should be accountable when it comes to citizens' right to life, liberty and the pursuit of heart surgery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/our-founders-thought-politicians-should-be-accountable-when-it-comes/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [Trying to stretch the mission of a health program like Medicaid, as a way to launder redistributionist goals, ends up serving nobody well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/trying-to-stretch-the-mission-of-a-health-program-like-medicaid-as-a/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [Rather than redistribute physician income as a way to subsidize an expansion of government control, Mr. Obama should fix the payment system to align…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/rather-than-redistribute-physician-income-as-a-way-to-subsidize-an/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [The ability of working class Americans to bargain for health coverage at work gave them access to the same basic packages of benefits as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/the-ability-of-working-class-americans-to-bargain-for-health-coverage/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [Historical records show that smallpox was a human scourge for thousands of years. The virus produces high fever, severe back pain and scarring eruptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/historical-records-show-that-smallpox-was-a-human-scourge-for/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [While faulty information from a digital health tool can influence people to make bad decisions, the risks are far lower than those posed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/while-faulty-information-from-a-digital-health-tool-can-influence/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) [Explore all 100 Scott Gottlieb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) ## More Health quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Water is life, and clean water means health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/water-is-life-and-clean-water-means-health/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [I listen to my body, I give it things it wants and I eliminate things it doesn't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-ekland/i-listen-to-my-body-i-give-it-things-it-wants-and-i-eliminate-things/) [Britt Ekland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-ekland/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Mental health is an issue close to my heart - an issue, indeed, I've covered repeatedly for Channel 4 News.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-newman/mental-health-is-an-issue-close-to-my-heart-an-issue-indeed-i-ve/) [Cathy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-newman/) > [If you’re going to die on screen, you’ve got to be strong and in good health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-garbo/if-you-re-going-to-die-on-screen-you-ve-got-to-be-strong-and-in-good/) [Greta Garbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-garbo/) > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [Not only is a healthy America a strong America - it's vital to our national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/not-only-is-a-healthy-america-a-strong-america-it-s-vital-to-our/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) [Browse all 17,127 Health quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One option is to run Medicaid like a health program - rather than an exercise in political morals - and let states tailor benefits to the individual needs of patients, even if that means abandoning the unworkable myth of 'comprehensive' coverage.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Scott Gottlieb" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/one-option-is-to-run-medicaid-like-a-health-program-rather-than-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Health" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/one-option-is-to-run-medicaid-like-a-health-program-rather-than-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/scott-gottlieb-6147_health_one-option-is-to-run-medicaid-like-a-hea_926472.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/scott-gottlieb-6147_health_one-option-is-to-run-medicaid-like-a-hea_926472.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/scott-gottlieb-6147_health_one-option-is-to-run-medicaid-like-a-hea_926472.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One option is to run Medicaid like a health program - rather than an exercise in political morals - and let…” — Scott Gottlieb", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Scott Gottlieb", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One option is to run Medicaid...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/one-option-is-to-run-medicaid-like-a-health-program-rather-than-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/one-option-is-to-run-medicaid-like-a-health-program-rather-than-an/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```