GOP Senators Unveil Alternative To Current Obamacare Repeal Bill

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo




By ESME CRIBB Published JULY 13, 2017 11:38 AM

Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) on Thursday revealed an alternate proposal to repeal Obamacare as the current Republican health care bill remains in legislative limbo.

Graham’s and Cassidy’s bill would maintain taxes Obamacare levied on wealthy Americans and send federal money currently spent on health insurance to the states as block grants.

Their proposal would repeal a tax Obamacare imposed on medical device makers. It would also repeal the financial penalty imposed on individuals who did not comply with the health care law’s individual mandate to purchase health insurance and the requirement for employers to provide affordable coverage plans, while maintaining the ban on denying coverage to consumers with pre-existing conditions.

During a joint appearance on CNN, Cassidy said their proposal would keep Obamacare’s Essential Health Benefits (EHB) rule, which mandates that insurance plans cover a basic minimum of health care.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/lindsey-graham-bill-cassidy-alternate-obamacare-repeal

[SHRED]

1. They are pissing in the wind

[Faux pas]

6. And

pissing all over we the peons.

[asiliveandbreathe]

2. In other words - same as the ol' words.....

A decree, you are still going to die.....

[awesomerwb1]

3. So besides the tax on medical devices and

the penalty if you don't buy it, it's the same as the ACA??

Am I missing something?

[Massacure]

9. The block grant piece

It sounds like the medical devices funds the ACA to the tune of 220 billion dollars (over 10 years?) and the 3.8% net investment surcharge on income of over $200,000/$250,000 for individuals/couples funds it to the tune of 500 billion dollars. Instead of using 720 billion dollars to subsidize the healthcare exchanges and Medicaid expansion, 500 billion would be sent to the individual states as block grants. If California wanted to use their chunk of cash to start a single payer system, they could. If Kansas decided they wanted to use the money to pay for Medicaid expenditures instead of their general fund and then turned around and cut taxes... well you get the idea. Most states would end up somewhere between those two extremes.

Overall, the result would probably be somewhat of a mixed bag.

[xor]

10. There is the block grant stuff...

I'm not 100% sure of what the implications are, but I know it's generally viewed as negative around here. Perhaps someone with a good understanding of it can give a good explanation....


I did read through this, though: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/block-grants-republican-medicaid/


Anyway, the fact that this plan at least provide something means the "let 'em all die really really really super painfully" part of the GOP will totally be against this plan from the "let 'em all die painfully" part of the GOP.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Why is the medical device tax a big deal?

The manufacturer is the one paying for the device. And more than likely they will take that into consideration when considering the cost to sell it. It is $23 for every $1,000.

Maybe CEO's and other execs should have a lower salary.

[Podkayne K]

7. OMG...

... what are those CEO's and exec's gonna' do about heating their swimming pools, fueling all their Mercedes, and still having enough to cover expenses for their 2nd vacation house? It's tragic I tell you, simply criminal they won't be able to keep funding those little luxuries they've become so accustomed to.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Somehow I Think They'll Be Ok

I could be wrong, or course.

[Bengus81]

5. Yet ANOTHER one?!?! ROFLMMFAO!!!

I'm getting confused. Is the the alternative to the alternative to that House alternative to the ACA Law??