Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Backlash To Gutting Medicaid Could Complicate Promises To Dismantle ACA
Stat: Changes Coming For Medicaid After Trump's Election
Governors are anticipating gaining more authority over the massive Medicaid health program for the poor now that Donald Trump is heading to the White House, while millions of Americans are wondering whether they will lose their coverage. But Trump made conflicting statements about Medicaid during the campaign, leaving experts scratching their heads about what his victory means for the people it covers. Moreover, despite his and fellow Republicans’ pledge to repeal the Affordable Care Act, there may be political push-back to taking away Medicaid coverage from the millions who got it under the law. (Joseph and Ross, 11/10)
Kaiser Health News: Millions Could Lose Medicaid Coverage Under Trump Plan
Millions of low-income Americans on Medicaid could lose their health coverage if President-elect Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress follow through on GOP proposals to cut spending in the state-federal insurance program. The biggest risk for Medicaid beneficiaries comes from pledges by Trump and other Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which provided federal funding to states to expand Medicaid eligibility starting in 2014. (Galewitz, 11/9)
California Healthline: California Faces Major Reversal If Trump, Congress Scrap Health Law
California has a lot to lose if President-elect Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress fulfill their campaign pledge to repeal Obamacare. The Golden State fully embraced the Affordable Care Act by expanding Medicaid coverage for the poor and creating its own health insurance exchange for about 1.4 million enrollees. Supporters held California up as proof the health law could work as intended. (Terhune, 11/9)
AL.com: GOP Lawmakers Optimistic About Trump Impact On Alabama Medicaid Problems
Some Republican state lawmakers expressed initial optimism about how the Donald Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress could affect one of Alabama's thorniest problems – how to pay for Medicaid. The Trump campaign called for block grant programs for Medicaid to allow states to be more innovative, although many details would have to be determined. A block grant could give Alabama more control over Medicaid. (Cason, 11/9)
Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser: Trump Victory Could Impact Alabama Health Care System
Donald Trump’s victory Tuesday evening could impact the future of Alabama’s health care system, particularly Medicaid and Affordable Care Act policies. ... How Alabama’s relationship with Medicaid – and the 22 percent of the state that counts on it for health coverage – continues in a Trump administration remains to be seen. Trump’s platform includes a call for turning Medicaid into a block grant program, which House Speaker Paul Ryan has proposed in the past. Block grants would give states a lump sum of money for Medicaid, to spend as they see fit. Clouse said he believed that was “on the table,” but couldn’t say for certain. But block grants would also likely lead to reductions in overall program spending and rollbacks to Alabama’s already-minimal Medicaid program, said Jim Carnes, policy director for Alabama Arise. (Lyman, 11/9)
Sioux Falls (S.D.) Argus Leader: Trump Win Puts Medicaid Expansion Talk On Hold
A proposal to expand a federal health insurance program for needy people could be off the table following the results of Tuesday's election. The victory of Republican Donald Trump, who has called for a repeal of Obamacare, along with the increasingly conservative Republican make-up of the South Dakota state Legislature could thwart Gov. Dennis Daugaard's efforts to expand Medicaid in the state. (Ferguson, 11/9)
Twin Falls (Idaho) Times-News: Medicaid Expansion In Idaho Likely Dead With Trump Win
The election of Donald Trump as president means the likely repeal of the Affordable Care Act and even more doubt about whether lawmakers will expand Medicaid in Idaho in 2017. “No sense in working on the branches of a problem if the root is going to be pulled up,” House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, said Wednesday. (Brown, 11/10)
