Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Republican Governors Starting To Take Matters Into Own Hands Over Medicaid
The Hill: GOP States Move To Cut Medicaid
Republican governors are working with the Trump administration to do something Congress couldn’t accomplish — fundamentally alter their state Medicaid programs. At least six states with GOP governors— Arkansas, Kentucky, Arizona, Maine, Wisconsin and Indiana — have already drafted plans meant to introduce new rules people would have to meet to be eligible for Medicaid, which provides healthcare to the poor. (Weixel and Roubein, 8/3)
In other news —
Politico Pro: CHIP Debate Could Reopen Obamacare Fight
Political fallout from Republicans' failed Obamacare repeal effort could complicate reauthorization of the bipartisan Children’s Health Insurance Program covering millions of kids. Lawmakers wrapped up in the bitter, monthslong fight over Obamacare repeal have made little progress on legislation extending CHIP, which is set to expire after September. (Pradhan, 8/2)
State House News Service: Gov. Baker Will Agree To New Health Care Fees, Fines On Employers
Gov. Charlie Baker will sign into law $200 million in new fees and fines on Massachusetts employers to help pay for MassHealth without sought-after reforms to the program, putting his faith in the Legislature to follow through on pledges to work with him this fall to control growth in Medicaid and health care spending. Risking political backlash from influential business groups, Baker, in an interview in his office on Tuesday, said he hoped the decision to sign — and not veto — the measure on Wednesday would remove the controversial employer assessments as a hot potato in the Beacon Hill debate over rising Medicaid spending. (Murphy, 8/2)
