Effects From Repeal Would Ripple Through Entire Economy, Creating ‘Noticeable’ Slowdown
Most of the job cuts would result from two factors: the loss of federal spending for premium tax credits that help people pay for marketplace coverage, and the loss of spending for Medicaid services. In related news, Massachusetts officials say reviving the old system in their state if the health law is repealed is unrealistic; Minnesota's efforts to stabilize its marketplace may offer a peek into the future; the medical device industry is on tenterhooks over a tax on its products; and more.
McClatchy:
Obamacare Repeal Would Kill Millions Of Jobs Nationwide
It may not crash the economy, but repealing key provisions of the Affordable Care Act would certainly create job losses in every state. That’s the consensus of a growing body of studies that suggest the economic fallout from the health law’s partial demise would ripple through the entire economy, not just the health care sector. Josh Bivens, Director of Research at the Economic Policy Institute, estimates the proposed repeal would eliminate nearly 1.2 million jobs in 2019. (Pugh, 2/7)
WBUR:
If Obamacare Is Repealed, Could Mass. Fall Back On State Law? It Wouldn't Be Easy — Or Necessarily Wise
Some people mapping the options for Massachusetts under various "repeal and replace" scenarios are reluctant to talk about returning to Romneycare. They don’t want to create the impression within the state or in Washington, D.C., that Massachusetts might try to go it alone or might be just fine on its own. And in fact, Massachusetts would not be just fine. The state will bring in just over a billion dollars more in federal funding this year than it did before passage of the ACA, according to the Baker administration. (Bebinger, 2/7)
Kaiser Health News:
Could Minnesota Health Reforms Foreshadow Repeal And Replace?
What’s going to happen to the federal health law? The quick answer is no one knows. But in the midst of the uncertainty about the Affordable Care Act, states still must govern their insurance markets. Most have been muddling through with the 2017 status quo, but Minnesota is a special case, taking three unusual actions that are worth a closer look. (Zdechlik, 2/7)
Denver Post:
Boulder County Medical Device Makers Anxiously Await Obamacare Tax Repeal
As the Trump administration looks to unravel the Affordable Care Act, Boulder County’s medical device industry is hopeful that a tax on its products, designed to help fund the law, will be repealed — and soon. A two-year moratorium designed to give them some relief from the measure is set to expire at the end of this year, but they say true balance won’t be restored until the tax is completely dead. (Castle, 2/6)
Kaiser Health News:
If Obamacare Is Being Repealed, Do The Uninsured Still Face Penalties?
Michelle Andrews writes: "In some recent emails, readers asked about what to expect as Republicans move to overhaul the health law. Should people bother paying the penalty for not having health insurance when they file their taxes this year? Will they be able to sign up on the exchange for 2018 after their COBRA benefits end? Here are some answers." (Andrews, 2/7)
The Star Tribune:
Gov. Dayton Seeks Quick Vote On MinnesotaCare 'Buy-In'
Minnesota would become one of the first states in the nation with a “public option” in the marketplace for individual health insurance under a plan pitched by Gov. Mark Dayton and endorsed Monday by two outstate DFL legislators. Private health insurance options are dwindling for rural Minnesotans, said Rep. Clark Johnson, DFL-North Mankato, so opening more space in the 25-year-old MinnesotaCare program makes sense. (Olson, 2/7)
