GOP Senators Working On Health Bill Weigh Deeper Reductions In Medicaid

The Hill:
Senate GOP Considers Deeper Medicaid Cuts Than House Bill 

A leading option in the Senate’s ObamaCare repeal-and-replace debate is to make even deeper cuts to Medicaid spending than the bill passed by the House, according to lobbyists and aides. The proposal would start out the growth rate for a new cap on Medicaid spending at the same levels as the House bill, but then drop to a lower growth rate that would cut spending more, known as CPI-U, starting in 2025, the sources said. (Sullivan, 6/19)

CNN:
Moderates May Lose A Major Fight On Medicaid

While the idea might help convince conservatives like Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas or Mike Lee of Utah to view a final proposal more favorably, it could be problematic for moderates like Portman or Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada, who faces re-election in 2018. A spokesman told CNN Portman remains opposed to dropping the growth rate below the level of the House bill, which along with ending Medicaid expansion would reduce spending on the program by $800 billion over 10 years. Several other more moderate members of the conference have voiced concern over the idea. (Mattingly and Fox, 6/19)

The Hill:
Hospital Group Warns Of Serious Harm From Medicaid Cuts 

The American Hospital Association warned Senate Republicans Monday against including large cuts to Medicaid in its healthcare bill. “Medicaid serves our most vulnerable populations, including Americans with chronic conditions such as cancer, the elderly and disabled individuals in need of long-term services and support, and already pays providers significantly less than the cost of providing care,” the AHA wrote in a letter Monday. The House healthcare bill’s proposed $834 billion in Medicaid cuts would have “serious negative consequences for communities across America,” AHA said.  (Hellmann, 6/19)