As GOP Takes Aim At Medicaid, A Growing Chorus Rises To Sing Its Praises
The federal-state program, which covers 70 million low-income Americans, has long been stigmatized as substandard. But it also has grown into a powerhouse program that now provides funding for hospitals, nursing homes and drug treatment, and cutting that back has many people nervous.
Bloomberg:
Medicaid's Starring Role In U.S. Health-Care Flap: QuickTake Q&A
The biggest single change called for by the Republican health-care bill that may be voted on by the U.S. Senate this week is its reduction in federal spending on Medicaid, the program for poor and disabled Americans. The bill is being championed by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and backed by U.S. President Donald Trump as a way to "repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The Senate bill, like one passed in May by the House of Representatives, would roll back Obamacare’s expansion of Medicaid and make other far-reaching changes to the program as well. (Greifeld and Tracer, 6/27)
The Associated Press:
Medicaid Mission Creep Threatens GOP's 'Obamacare' Repeal
Somewhere along the way, the Republican crusade to repeal "Obamacare" also turned into an effort to limit the future growth of Medicaid. That bit of mission creep is complicating prospects for the GOP, and could lead to deadlock. (6/27)
NPR:
Why Medicaid Takes Up One-Tenth Of The Federal Budget
Medicaid is the government health care program for the poor. That's the shorthand explanation. But Medicaid is so much more than that — which is why it's become the focal point of the battle in Washington to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. President Obama expanded Medicaid under his signature health care law to cover 11 million more people, bringing the total number of people covered up to 69 million. (Kodjak, 6/27)