Posted on 02/22/2017 10:00:42 AM PST by GIdget2004
The most divisive issue for Senate Republicans when it comes to repealing and replacing ObamaCare is what to do with Medicaid.
The Affordable Care Act gave states the option of accepting federal funds to expand Medicaid, the healthcare program for the poor and disabled. Millions of people gained health insurance after 31 states -- including many with Republican governors -- decided to accept the deal.
Repealing ObamaCare would end the Medicaid expansion, cutting federal funds to all of those states.
Some Republicans want to save the expansion at least through a transition period during which states would continue to get additional federal funds.
Others, including lawmakers from states that didn't take the expansion, say all of ObamaCare has to go, with no long, costly transition period for Medicaid.
The fact that some states took the expansion and others didn't provides a dividing line that will pit Republicans against one another.
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) calls it the single thorniest issue of the entire debate.
"You don't want to punish or penalize states that didn't expand [Medicaid], but the states that did expand are going to say, 'We don't want to get punished for expanding, either.' To me, that's probably the thorniest and most difficult issue to resolve," said Thune, the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.
Twenty Republican senators represent states that expanded Medicaid under ObamaCare, which the federal government subsidized entirely for the first three years of the expansion. Many want to keep the federal subsidies providing for the expansion.
Thirty-two Senate Republicans represent states that opted out of the Medicaid expansion. Many of them don't think it's fair for states that opted in to keep getting federal help.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
block grants that increase at CPI rather than healthcare CPI
I DON’T WANT IT “FIXED” I WANT IT REPEALED!!!!!!!!!
EVERY DAMN WORD OF IT
You have just discovered the Obamacare Poison Pill. Probably the biggest but with at least a few little brothers and sisters.
I thought those medicaid funds from the feds were scheduled to phase out over time.
This was one of the arguments for states not to “opt in”. Even though it meant getting flush w/cash up front, they’d wind up having to pay the piper on their own later.
So even though it initially solved some state’s budget problems, they now had an extra ball and chain to drag around.
California wants $19.1 billion for 2016-2017 budget an increase of 8% over prior year. Didn’t they just ask for
$60 billion to fix the dam? The rest of the US can’t afford California.
Looks like we’ll never get to repeal Bush’s prescription drug plan.
Wait, Wait, Wait!!!
How come my ‘supposed’ increase in SS this year went to pay for the INCREASE of Medicare??? Therefore, I didn’t get a RAISE, Medicare did...
That's because the majority of your fellow senators were never serious about actually repealing it, Senator Paul. And they still aren't.
The Feds picking up 100% of the expansion costs would be phased out. But even after that the Federal Government was supposed to pick up 80% or 90% of the costs.
The Obamacare repeal votes were total fraud. Kenyancare will only be repealed like it was passed: at gunpoint.
And Humpty wanted to be put back together again
Thanks for clarifying!
Why convolute the two - keep medicaid the same but eliminate ocare. How much you wanna bet that they want to link the two because the stats look better. Ocare by itself is clearly a disaster and can’t stand on its own merits.
I didn’t receive an increase in SS this year.
.
1/3 of California is on MediCal. Think about that for a minute. 1/3.
It has to be repealed it before they can see what’s replacing it...
That was good enough for them all those years ago, why not employ the same tactic?
Maybe I can be of assistance?
HR 1
This bill is to repeal the Affordable Care Act (a/k/a 0bamacare).
Sponsors
5.56mm
Father God, we thank you for all the bounty and blessing you’ve poured out on us this year. Now we humble ourselves once again and ask that You destroy this mighty scourge of obamacare. that you nullify the actions of these blind and arrogant politicians and clear the way for repeal of this abomination. that You remember You are just and merciful to those now ensnared by this devil’s web of “sick care.” that You help us to restore true health care run by doctors and their patients once again to this Your nation. Your will be done. In Jesus’ Name with thanksgiving. Amen.
STATES HAVING ACCEPTED EXPANSION: AK, HI, WA, OR, CA, NV, MT, AZ, CO, NM, ND, MN, IA, AR, LA*, IL, MI, IN, OH, KY, WV, PA, NY, NJ, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI, DE, MD, plus DC
STATES REFUSING: ID, UT, WY, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX, MO, WI, TN, MS, AL, GA, FL, NC, SC, VA, ME
*LA just started down this road in December, so there’s essentially zero impact for that state.
MEDICAID EXP. STATES WITH GOP DEFENDING A 2018 SENATE SEAT: AZ, CO, MS, NV
MEDICAID NON-EXP. STATES WITH DEM DEFENDING A SENATE SEAT: WI, FL, VA, ME*, MO
* independent defending
This argument sounds like a red herring... another invented way to not vote for repeal.
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