In Shadow Of Health Law Hubbub, States Quietly Move To Reshape Medicaid On Their Own
The steps states are taking to change the program could affect millions of people. In other news, the Los Angeles Times offers a detailed look at how much counties that went for Trump rely on Medicaid and CHIP.
ProPublica:
The Medicaid Threat That Isn’t Getting Much Attention
In many ways, the current battles pit those who view Medicaid as a health insurance program, in which higher enrollment is not seen as a problem, against those who see it as a welfare program, in which lower enrollment is prized. Some states that have experimented with more frequent verification and other techniques to manage enrollment say they've worked well, while others say they're not cost-effective and are overly burdensome. (Ornstein, 7/6)
Los Angeles Times:
Medicaid’s Vital Role For Children In Trump Country
Medicaid and the related Children’s Health Insurance Progam, CHIP, provide critical protections to children in poor, rural parts of America. A majority of these areas backed Donald Trump last year. Now President Trump is pushing healthcare legislation that would dramatically cut the healthcare safety net. (Krishnakumar and Levey, 7/6)
And in Ohio —
Cincinnati Enquirer:
John Kasich Scores Another Victory Over GOP On Medicaid Expansion
Republican lawmakers failed to vote to override Gov. John Kasich's latest major veto, keeping Medicaid intact for 500,000 lower-income Ohioans and giving the governor another victory over his own party. After Kasich rejected lawmakers' proposal to halt future enrollment in Medicaid expansion, GOP lawmakers vigorously debated whether to override that veto. In the end, on Thursday, they didn't try. (Balmert, 7/6)
Cleveland Plain Dealer:
Gov. John Kasich: Medicaid-Related Vetoes Threaten Budget Stability
Gov. John Kasich and several of his cabinet directors said Thursday that the House's Medicaid-related veto overrides threaten health care access and do nothing to help a projected $1.4 billion shortfall for the health insurance program. The House rejected 11 of Kasich's 47 line-item vetoes on Thursday, the first time either chamber of the GOP-controlled General Assembly overrode one of Kasich's vetoes. (Borchardt, 7/6)