Maryland could lose billions in federal funding if ACA is repealed

Jan. 20--The repeal of Obamacare could cost the State of Maryland nearly $2 billion in Medicaid funding for more than 260,000 people, state legislative analysts told lawmakers Thursday.

Hospitals could lose an additional $2.3 billion, the analysts told the House Health and Government Operations Committee. That's federal money they receive for working to keep health care costs down.

The conclusions for the next fiscal year alarmed Democratic lawmakers, advocates, insurers and others. They spoke of a sharp increase in the number of uninsured people in the state, more debt for hospitals and eventually higher premiums for everyone else.

"Our option is leaving people without coverage," said Del. Shane Pendergrass, the Howard County Democrat who chairs the committee. "But that means people don't get treatment and hospitals incur uncompensated care costs when people come in at their wits' end."

The GOP-led Congress, backed by President-elect Donald Trump, has begun the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act.

Trump recently promised "insurance for everyone." But he has not provided details, and his pick for health secretary, Rep. Tom Price, stopped short of promising universal coverage.

Suggestions for replacing Obamacare include block grants to states to cover recipients of Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor, and a tax credit to help consumers buy insurance.

The moves would reduce the cost of the health law and give states flexibility in implementing programs, conservative advocates say.

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