With Trump's victory, GOP hopes to overhaul Medicaid

[DonViejo]

Source: Associated Press

THURSDAY, DEC 29, 2016 11:16 AM EST

CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY, ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATLANTA (AP) With Donald Trumps election, Republicans in Congress will have the opportunity to overhaul Medicaid, something theyve wanted to do for years.

The program provides health care to millions of lower-income and disabled Americans. Currently, the federal government pays a certain percentage of each states Medicaid costs.

Republicans say states have little incentive to keep expenses down because no state pays more than half the total cost. They prefer sending a fixed amount of money each year to the states in the form of block grants, a move Republicans say would rein in spending.

Democrats have warned of dire consequences. Advocacy groups say reducing federal spending on Medicaid will place more of the financial burden on states and result in cuts, such as Medicaid covering fewer procedures or medications.

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Read more: http://www.salon.com/2016/12/29/with-trumps-victory-gop-hopes-to-overhaul-medicaid/

[greymattermom]

1. so how will they know the number of medicaid eligible folks for each state

when they give the block grants? What if it goes up or down during the year?

[atreides1]

2. They don't care!

You can pretty much expect that the amount of the block grant will remain the same. People will be thrown under the bus, and the Feds can point the finger at the states, accusing them of not budgeting properly...the states will then be blamed for people dying due to lack of decent health care!

And it will decrease the surplus population, something that Republicans are looking forward to!!!

[Ohioblue22]

4. those bloc grants wo t stay the same they will go down every year . these grants will be the victim

of much cutting

[Aristus]

8. As much as Republicans hate anyone who isn't rich, they will always need surplus

population. Labor surplus means cheap labor, and poor negotiating conditions for labor unions. Why do you suppose Republicans hate birth control, sex education, and abortion so much?

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

3. IF IT AINT BROKE DONT FIX IT. Why are they doing it - because they can. nt

[Bayard]

5. Rein in spending?

Why do they think the money is being used frivolously, and what do they have in mind? Like this?--I recently had to have an injection in my foot. The injection was paid for, but the drug in the injection was not. How does that make sense?

[True_Blue]

6. We're so screwed

I just hope the Dems can hold them back at least until 2018. Democrats absolutely have to show up for the midterms elections so we can take back the House & Senate and stop this madness.

[Coventina]

7. IOW: End Medicaid.

Congrats Trump voters, on killing so many of your brethren!

[ffr]

9. FIXED: With Americans being hoodwinked, GOP hopes to overhaul Medicaid

And penalize those Joe and Jane rust belt voters as their first order of business.

That's more like it. Fixed.

[SamKnause]

10. Overhaul in Republican speak means to destroy.

They destroy everything they touch.

They will 'overhaul' Social Security.

They will 'overhaul' Medicare.

They will 'overhaul' Medicaid.

They will 'overhaul' the ACA.

They will 'overhaul' the USPS.

They will 'overhaul' the tax code.

They will 'overhaul' the food stamp program.

They will 'overhaul' the EPA.

[red dog 1]

11. Trump: "I am the only Republican candidate who will not cut Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid"

(From Democracy Now interview with Bernie Sanders which aired Dec. 26)

BERNIE SANDERS:
"Trump sent out a tweet where he says:
'I am the only Republican candidate for president who will not cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.'"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1261380


(Although not directly related to Medicaid cuts, there is also this from Social Security Works)
THE GOP PLAN TO DESTROY MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY
"Republicans have their roadmap laid out..They're just waiting for the New Year to implement the most dangerous overhaul of our earned benefits in history.
Medicare and Social Security are in grave danger.
We can only stop the Republican plan to destroy our earned benefits if we stand together immediately."
SIGN THE PETITION TODAY DEMANDING THAT REPUBLICANS GET THEIR HANDS OFF MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY!
http://actionnetwork.org/petitions/the-gop-plan-to-destroy-medicare-social-security


K&R, thanks for posting, DonViejo