House Republican "moderates" sign on to gutting the ACA Medicaid expansion

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Punchbowl News provides valuable daily intelligence as to the progress of the Republican reconciliation package, but they have this story exactly backwards:'

The red lines begin: A dozen House Republicans say no to big Medicaid cuts

News: If you’re looking for a sign that House Republicans are getting worried about cuts to Medicaid, here it is.

A dozen House Republicans are warning GOP leaders that they won’t back a reconciliation package that includes massive cuts to Medicaid, according to a letter first obtained by Punchbowl News.

What the letter* actually does is sign onto the hard-right Republican plan, advanced by House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie, to defund the ACA Medicaid expansion, which covers 20 million low-income adults. Ending the ACA’s 90% federal funding for the expansion population yields $561 billion in “savings” over ten years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. It’s the centerpiece of meeting the $880 billion 10-year cut target established for the Energy and Commerce Committee by the House budget resolution.

Tell Congress: Hands off Medicaid!

 

Tell Congress: Hands off Medicaid!

·      Huge cuts to Medicaid are pending: The budget resolution that passed the House with no Democratic votes directs the Energy & Commerce Committee to cut federal spending by $880 billion in ten years – almost all of which would have to come from Medicaid.

·     The Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion is on the chopping block: The ACA provides Medicaid to 21 million poor and near-poor adults (550,000 in our state). House Republican leadership has made it clear that they intend to eliminate dedicated federal funding for the ACA Medicaid expansion – a $650 billion spending cut.

·       Uninsuring millions: If the federal 90% contribution for “expansion” enrollees is eliminated, no state will be able to afford to maintain the expansion.  Based on past estimates by the Congressional Budget Office, 15-20 million people will lose coverage.

·      Republicans are lying about their plans: Republican leadership, and on-board representatives  like Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-7), say that they will “protect” Medicaid for children, seniors and the disabled and only cut “waste, fraud, and abuse.” In Republican-speak, “waste” means coverage for low-income adults.

·      Say no to work requirements: Republicans also aim to make all states impose “work requirements” on most adult Medicaid enrollees – though the vast majority of non-disabled enrollees either work or are caregivers or students.  Work requirements have been tried – and the red tape drives eligible Medicaid recipients off the rolls in droves – as Republicans intend.

Take Action

·       Contact NJ’s Republican House Reps: Tell them Hands off Medicaid! Preserve the ACA Medicaid expansion. Say no to work requirements.

Jeff Van Drew (NJ-2) --  (202) 225-6572 or ( 609) 625-5008
Chris Smith (NJ-4) –  (202) 225-3765 or (732) 780-3035
Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-7) -- (202) 225-5361 or  (908) 547-3307

Van Drew and Smith, both of whom would prefer not to cut Medicaid, are receptive to out-of-district calls; Kean, not so much.