Ohio lawmakers air concerns about GOP health proposal
Gov.
The 142-page bill -- known as the Better Care Reconciliation Act -- would make sharp cuts in Medicaid and eliminate Obamacare's individual mandate, under which Americans pay a fine if they do not purchase health insurance. Medicaid would operate on a fixed budget rather than as an open-ended program.
The Republican plan would also institute a new system of federal tax credits to help people pay for coverage, and would allow states to roll back a number of benefits required under the Affordable Care Act, including maternity care, emergency services, and mental health treatment.
He said he has problems with the provisions of the bill relating to Medicaid, but he stopped short of saying he opposed it in its current form.
"There are some promising changes to reduce premiums in the individual insurance market, but I continue to have real concerns about the Medicaid policies in this bill, especially those that impact drug treatment at a time when
"This bill takes away the No. 1 tool we have in the fight against opioids -- Medicaid treatment," he said. "We cannot allow
He also criticized the bill for raising premiums for low-income Americans and people older than 50, who could pay as much five times more than younger people. Under the Affordable Care Act, people older than 50 could be charged up to three times more than younger people.
Senate Majority Leader
Ohio
And with the razor-thin margins at play in the
"The activity on the ground and in the grassroots does matter,"
Ultimately, though, the ball is in
"It's going to be difficult, but I think there's a good chance of getting it passed,"
But that singular focus cuts both ways,
Failure to pass the senate bill next week would be a "setback,"
"I think if they could get nothing done before the midterm elections in 2018 it would be devastating for
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