The Next Step for the Republican Health Care Bill: A Skeptical Senate

A Skeptical Senate
Medicaid
The AHCA (American Health Care Act-2017) as passed by the Republican House, would make dramatic changes to Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor and disabled.
The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) allows states to expand eligibility for Medicaid to single, nondisabled adults with incomes slightly above the poverty line, with the federal government picking up most of the cost. That meant single adults who earn up to $15,800 a year could qualify in the 31 states, plus the District of Columbia, that expanded Medicaid. About 10 million people enrolled under that expansion.

The Republican plan would gradually roll back that expansion starting in 2019 by cutting the federal reimbursement to states for anyone who leaves the Medicaid rolls. People often cycle in and out of the program as their income fluctuates, so the result would likely be an ever-dwindling number of people covered.
The House bill also converts Medicaid from an entitlement program, in which the government pays all the health-related costs for those who qualify, to a grant program. The federal government would give states either a set amount of money for each Medicaid enrollee or let them choose to receive a fixed-dollar block grant.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated in March that the bill would cut Medicaid spending by $880 billion.
We await the Senate version of the AHCA.

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