House Subcommittee Approves 2 Bills Tweaking Medicaid Eligibility
Democrats criticize the bills as being trivial. They would limit coverage for people who are lottery winners and those getting long-term care coverage whose spouses receive payments from annuities.
Morning Consult:
House Panel Advances Medicaid Reform Bills
A House subcommittee on Tuesday advanced two bills that tweak the rules to limit who is eligible for Medicaid. Republicans say the bills will help prioritize beneficiaries who most need the federal health care program for the poor, but Democrats criticized the bills for being “trivial” in the scope of broader GOP plans to reform Medicaid and overhaul the Affordable Care Act. Both bills were approved by the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee along party lines. (McIntire, 2/7)
CQ Roll Call:
Medicaid Bills Advance After Heated Partisan Debate
The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on Tuesday advanced to the full committee a pair of Medicaid bills designed to curb benefits for two groups. Votes on the bills were preceded by heated debate over whether the measures would save money by targeting individuals who may earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. The bills focus on lottery winners (or recipients of other large lump-sum payments), and on recipients of long-term care coverage whose spouses receive payments from annuities. Republicans say both groups take advantage of Medicaid. (Siddons, 2/7)