Stefanik: End Medicaid expansion funding gradually

July 06--PLATTSBURGH -- In addition to her tour of Norsk Titanium, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik addressed a few other federal and state issues while in Plattsburgh Wednesday.

She said she would like to see the Senate's version of the American Health Care Act include more funds for maternity and preventative care. She said she had pushed for inclusion of an amendment that added $15 billion for that in the House bill.

"I think the Senate needs to make improvements regarding their funding specifically for those two issues," Stefanik said.

MEDICAID EXPANSION

The congresswoman (R-Willsboro) would also like to see a more gradual reduction of funding for states that took part in Medicaid expansion to provide more people with coverage under the current health-care system.

That is especially important, she said, because New York is one of the states that opted to do that.

"I think we need to have language that has a commonsense and generous off-ramp for Medicaid expansion so we have a safety net for individuals that have utilized that Medicaid expansion," she said. "As I've always said, it needs to be a multi-year process."

There are members of both houses of Congress that advocate for the end of Medicaid expansion at the end of this year, Stefanik said.

"That's a non-starter, from my perspective," she said.

WANTS GRADUAL REDUCTION

Stefanik also believes there should be a gradual reduction of federal funding to get back to the traditional 50-50 match in Medicaid funds, not an immediate drop as some propose.

It just makes sense to do that gradually, she said.

Asked about the Collins-Faso amendment to the American Health Care Act, she said she supports that measure.

It would take effect in 2020, returning responsibility for the state's share of Medicaid funding (about $2.3 billion) back from the counties, where it is now.

"In some counties in this district that takes more than 50 percent of their budget," Stefanik said. "I believe Albany should take responsibility for its budget, and that includes making sure they can fully fund and pay for their Medicaid programs."

There are ways to save money, Stefanik said, as New York spends more on Medicaid patients than Florida, Texas and California combined.

One way would be to reduce Medicaid fraud, she said, which has the potential to save hundreds of millions of dollars.

'INAPPROPRIATE'

As for President Donald Trump's activity on Twitter, Stefanik said she would like to see that reduced.

There are many times it can be used appropriately, she said, such as dissemination of official policy.

"It is a tool I use proudly and I believe that I use very appropriately," Stefanik said.

The president's tweets recently included the too frequent pattern of personal attacks and insults.

"I've said that I think that President Trump should tweet less, and the recent tweets, I believe, are inappropriate."

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