Proposed Legislation
Plan outline released on February 16, 2017
Policy Summary
Republicans released a replacement plan outline for the Affordable Care Act that they claim will increase coverage while decreasing prices, but it’s unclear how. In Health Care, there are no perfect answers and are always tradeoffs. Many believe Obamacare “sacrificed affordability in order to get more people insured” by expanding expensive Medicaid programs to reach over 70 million additional Americans. The proposed legislation would transition Medicaid from an entitlement program with guaranteed federal funding, to a per capita allotment or a block grant per program. LEARN MORE
Analysis
Republicans claim these changes will give states the flexibility and control they need while Democrats argue the number of people covered and the quality of care will decline. Proposed legislation “empowers states to design plans that will best meet their needs and put Medicaid on sustainable financial footing.” Many are worried that states would not be able to react quickly enough to natural disasters, terrorist attacks, disease outbreaks, or other emergencies that require Medicaid’s assistance. The new plan is also criticized for its proposal to fix Medicaid spending and then raise it at the annual rate of inflation when “medical costs consistently rise faster than inflation.” LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – Official government website that provides information about Medicare and Medicaid as well as opportunities to get involved.
- Health Leads – An organization dedicated to providing community-based tools for a healthy lifestyle. This website provides opportunities to volunteer or donate to the cause.
- Families USA – Advocacy group for nation-wide, affordable health care coverage with opportunities to donate, sign a petition, reach out to Congress members, and learn more about Health Care issues and trends.
This brief was compiled by Ann Furbush. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact ann@usresistnews.org.