SC Gov. McMaster backs ‘reasonable’ Medicaid cuts in health care repeal

July 11--S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster is urging lawmakers in Congress to repeal and replace President Barack Obama's signature health care law.

And capping rising spending on Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for the poor and disabled, should be part of that, the Richland Republican said in a Tuesday letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

McMaster said he supports capping Medicaid are "reasonable" levels while giving states flexibility to cut costs "without sending them off the fiscal cliff."

The Medicaid cuts are the key feature of Congressional Republicans' plans to lower deficit spending. Experts have said the cuts would put states, including South Carolina, in a tough spot, having to decide which Medicaid patients get limited dollars.

"Our only alternative would be a simple repeal," McMaster wrote. "The voters elected President (Donald) Trump and Republican majorities in Congress on promises that they would implement a cost-effective, free market replacement for Obamacare."

McMaster's letter comes as GOP U.S. senators plan to take another stab at repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. Lawmakers expect to release that plan Thursday. A previous draft was met with opposition, including from Republicans, after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released an analysis of it.

McMaster, whose endorsement of Trump helped him to a pivotal win in the S.C. GOP primary, said lawmakers should consider a plan that also would abolish parts of the law that require individuals to buy insurance and employers to provide it.

McMaster said he also supports providing a "free market accommodation for pre-existing conditions, perhaps including incentive for covered individuals to maintain their policies."

Jamie Self: 803-771-8658, @jamiemself

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