Developing story
What seemed like a long shot just last week is suddenly inching closer to reality. Legislation crafted by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) is expected to get a floor vote next week.
"It is the leader's intention to consider Graham-Cassidy on the floor next week," said David Popp, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
The bill would largely turn the Affordable Care Act into a block grant program for states, giving governors and state lawmakers more power in determining health policy. Under the bill, nearly $1.2 trillion in ACA subsidies would be doled out to the states through 2026. States would be free to do away with many of the consumer protections currently embedded in the ACA. The bill would also end Medicaid expansion in 2020.
Provider groups opposed the Graham-Cassidy bill, fearing it would lead to a dramatic rise in the uninsured. "The Graham-Cassidy proposal could disrupt access to health care for millions of the more than 70 million Americans who depend on Medicaid and the marketplaces for their health coverage," said Federation of American Hospitals President and CEO Chip Kahn. "It is time to move on to secure the health coverage for those who have it, and find solutions for those who don't. We urge the Senate to reject legislation that fails to move us forward in assuring Americans access to affordable health care and coverage."
The Senate is in a bit of a time crunch to take another crack at repealing the ACA. The goal is to move the legislation under budget reconciliation rules, which only requires a simply majority for passage. The Senate parliamentarian has indicated that budget reconciliation rules end with the fiscal year on Sept. 30.
The push to vote on Graham-Cassidy has also dealt a blow to bipartisan efforts that were underway to address cost sharing reduction payments which insurers have said are critical to stabilizing the individual market.
Insurers have been largely silent on Graham-Cassidy, but the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association today came out opposed to the bill.
"Although we support providing states with greater flexibility in shaping health care options for their residents, we share the significant concerns of many health care organizations about the proposed Graham-Cassidy bill. The bill contains provisions that would allow states to waive key consumer protections, as well as undermine safeguards for those with pre-existing medical conditions. The legislation reduces funding for many states significantly and would increase uncertainty in the marketplace, making coverage more expensive and jeopardizing Americans' choice of health plans. Legislation must also ensure adequate funding for Medicaid to protect the most vulnerable," the association said in a statement.
Matthew Weinstock assigns, edits and directs coverage for Modern Healthcare. He joined Modern Healthcare in 2017 as the managing editor. Previously, he was director of communications and publication relations for the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. Prior to that, he spent 12 years as an editor at Hospitals & Health Networks. He’s won numerous national and regional journalism awards, including the prestigious McAllister Editorial Fellowship in 2013. He began his reporting career in the late 1990s in Washington, D.C., covering Congress and federal regulatory agencies. He has a bachelor's degree in English and political science from the University of Wisconsin.
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