Mass. Gov. Shelves Plan To Revamp Medicaid, Accepts New Taxes To Fund Health Care

Gov. Charlie Baker says he will sign a bill that will raise $200 million through new fees on businesses to help pay for health care for the poor, even though the bill does not include his plan to move 140,000 people from Medicaid into private plans. Also, officials in Georgia are weighing their options for changes to that state's Medicaid program.

Boston Globe: Baker Backs Down On Demand To Rein In MassHealth Costs

Governor Charlie Baker, backing away from a showdown with Democratic lawmakers, said Tuesday that he will sign legislation that imposes $200 million in higher fees on businesses to fund health care for the poor, even though the measure omits his plans for reining in the state’s Medicaid program. Baker’s decision means he is shelving — for now — his plans to curb the rising cost of MassHealth, including one approach that would have moved 140,000 adults from the program onto commercial health plans. (Levenson, 8/2)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: After Obamacare Repeal Fails, Georgia Leaders To Seek Medicaid Waivers

Amid uncertainty about how insurance markets will be affected by the U.S. Senate’s inability to repeal the Affordable Care Act — as well as President Donald Trump’s warnings that he could end payments to insurers in an attempt to restart efforts to dismantle the health care law — Georgia leaders are looking for longer-term solutions. Influential conservatives in the state are already preparing for a debate next year over how to craft waivers to seek what could be vast changes to the state’s Medicaid program. (Bluestein, 7/31)

This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.

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