Aaron Carroll : It 's not true that Medicaid is a universal health care program for all poor people . Carroll : Medicaid has a chance to become a full safety net under the Affordable Care Act . But states are free to say no to the Medicaid expansion under the health care law , he says . Comment: We 'll have to make compromises , but first let 's see if law will be stripped down .
Aaron Carroll : It 's not true that Medicaid is a universal health care program for all poor people . Carroll : Medicaid has a chance to become a full safety net under the Affordable Care Act . But states are free to say no to the Medicaid expansion under the health care law , he says . Carroll : We 'll have to make compromises , but first let 's see if law will be stripped down .