Charlie Dent ‘concerned’ by Senate health care bill

June 24--Republican U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania wasn't happy with the House GOP health care bill and had hoped to see the Senate take a different approach on several aspects, including changes to Medicaid.

But Dent told NPR Friday morning that the bill released by Senate Republicans also raises "some pretty serious concerns," describing the legislation as structurally similar to what cleared the House last month.

"Some aspects, like the Medicaid expansion piece, were, in some respects they were softened a little and in others they were hardened a little," Dent said. "And there are other parts that seem to be problematic, too."

Dent, whose 15th District includes Lehigh County and part of Northampton County, was among four Pennsylvania Republicans to vote against the House GOP health care bill. He had expressed concerns that the tax credits to offset insurance premiums are too small and the Medicaid changes don't give governors enough flexibility or resources.

On Medicaid, the Senate bill would end the additional money that states have received to pay for a new category of Medicaid enrollees, but would do so over a longer period of time than the House bill. The federal government would cover roughly half of those costs, as with the traditional program, as opposed to paying for the bulk of those health care services.

The closely guarded Senate health care bill written entirely behind closed doors finally became public Thursday in a do-or-die moment for the Republican Party's winding efforts to repeal Obamacare.

The closely guarded Senate health care bill written entirely behind closed doors finally became public Thursday in a do-or-die moment for the Republican Party's winding efforts to repeal Obamacare.

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It also would cap Medicaid's overall costs more deeply than the House bill, tying increases in the program's funding more closely to the inflation rate. Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey has pushed for that slower rate of growth, which would be lower than what's in the House proposal and the level of growth that the program has seen historically.

Dent said he'll be gauging the proposal's impact on Pennsylvania as the Senate debates the bill, and will be watching for an analysis from the Congressional Budget Office, which is expected on Monday.

"I have to say, I remain concerned about the policy and disappointed in the process," he said, adding he hopes "it improves as it progresses through the Senate."

lolson@mcall.com

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