GOP will not commit political suicide, Medicaid expansion will stay. (Representatives, Congress)

[Snowball7]

Yesterday, Trump and Pence (I added Pence, because he is obviously having
an impact) nominated Tom Price to head HHS, and Seema Verma to head the
Medicare and Medicaid within HHS.

There are more than a handful of GOP Senators and Representatives who
like their jobs and understand that repealing and replacing the ACA does
not necessarily have to mean block stripping 22 million Americans who receive
healthcare subsidies under the expansion of Medicaid. These people would
surely be a dangerous voting block, as many did indeed vote for Trump/Pence
or other GOP candidates. They know that if Medicaid expansion is not kept,
they will be out on their bellies in 2 or 4 years, losing their majorities in Congress
would be a likelihood even before any changes are fully implemented.

Rather than face this looming problem and handing the Democrats a primary
weapon on a silver platter, they have decided to change Obamacare in other
ways. I won't get into them all here, just the area which deals with this
22 million. Mike Pence as governor of Indiana hired a consultant, Seema Verma
who is now going to be in charge of M/M for the U.S. HHS.
A look into the plan (a "conservative" twist) on the ACA expansion in Indiana
is key to learning what to expect from "Trumpcare". Verma also helped
Kentucky draft a similar law which places conservative twists on Medicaid
while keeping people covered.

There are more than a few GOP Senators up for re-election in 2018 whom
realize that voters who have coverage cannot lose coverage without turning
against them. Lamar Alexander, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski are just 3.

So, while Democrats salivate at the prospect of the GOP alienating 22 million
voters (Medicaid expansion did not affect children, so these people really can vote)
do not expect the GOP to commit political suicide next year in the Obamacare
adjustment. The mandate will be gone, the Federal program, but the Federal
commitment to aid will be available in block grants that reward effective state
managements, such as Indiana and Kentucky, as designed by Seema Verma.

Reference articles:
Trump Nominates Pence Ally to Oversee Health Programs - ABC News
Indiana Expanded Access To Medicaid Under Pence, But It Might Not Last : Shots - Health News : NPR

[Snowball7]

Republican States That Expanded Medicaid Want To Keep It Under Trump

add Arizona delegation.

[ottomobeale]

NOONE knows what is going to go down. I kind of doubt even Trump.

There is going to be the right vs the righter vs the rightest contest in the GOP.

[Wells5]

As long as Congress is able to borrow and print money to pay for the Obamacare Medicaid expansion (100% subsidy to the states until 2020), Medicaid expansion will not be scaled back in any significant way. And nothing will be done about rampant Medicaid fraud, which is estimated at $67 billion in fiscal 2016.


Sound fiscal policy is a relic of the past.

[Snowball7]

Originally Posted by Wells5

As long as Congress is able to borrow and print money to pay for the Obamacare Medicaid expansion (100% subsidy to the states until 2020), Medicaid expansion will not be scaled back in any significant way. And nothing will be done about rampant Medicaid fraud, which is estimated at $67 billion in fiscal 2016.


Sound fiscal policy is a relic of the past.

I disagree, because there is solid evidence that fraud and overspending can
indeed be countermanded successfully in both Medicare and Medicaid.
The software exists, it does the job and reduces waste, so will effective
management and finally doing something about illegal immigration.

A full 60% of health care costs goes directly to the investment class, btw.
That is why France has better health care at 40% of our cost.

[evilnewbie]

They like the Medicaid now cause the federal govt is footing the bill... in a few years they will whine their state budget can't pay for Medicaid that the federal govt "forced" it on them and need an annual bailout... I am for the expansion but it needs to be dropped and redone... Merry Christmas...

[Freak80]

Funny how that works. I guess "socialism" is ok as long as it benefits conservative senior citizens.

[desertdetroiter]

Damn right it will. Republicans aren't gonna touch any substantial safety net programs and they know it. They'd better not.

[freemkt]

Does this mean it's now politically easier to cut Medicare than to cut Medicaid?

[desertdetroiter]

Originally Posted by freemkt

Does this mean it's now politically easier to cut Medicare than to cut Medicaid?

In their dreams.