PathWays PA Policy Blog

Last week, President Trump released his plans for the 2019 federal budget. It includes cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and energy assistance along with the elimination of funding for public broadcasting and loan forgiveness for students who enter public service. Here's a more in-depth look at some items: Healthcare: The budget cuts Medicaid and subsidies for the health insurance marketplace by $763 billion over 10 years. It also embraces the Graham-Cassidy proposal to eliminate the ACA and replace it with a block grant to states. The block grants would be less than what states receive currently to assist families with healthcare, leaving them with additional, unfunded costs. Housing: Under this budget, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would see a cut of $8.8 billion . Rental assistance programs are among those that would see cuts, while LIHEAP would be completely eliminated . Nutrition: Perhaps the most talked about cuts so far are those made to nutrition progra...

Congress is once again looking at ways to change or overturn the ACA. The latest vehicle is the Cassidy-Graham Plan, which we first reported on in July as a proposed amendment to other repeal attempts . Cassidy-Graham would make many of the changes that earlier ACA overhaul promised. Medicaid Expansion, which covers 11 million low-income adults, would end under the legislation. ACA subsidies for low-income people would also be eliminated. In their place, states would receive block grants to cover people who use Medicaid Expansion and subsidies. The plan changes how much money each state would receive, which means states with higher needs may not get enough funding. The total amount of block grants given would be 17% lower than current spending. By 2026, block grants would end, leaving states to determine how to cover people without any funding to do so. At the same time, Cassidy-Graham calls for a per capita cap on Medicaid spending, leaving states on the hook for any higher cost...

***Watch this space for updates as we learn more*** Senators today unveiled changes to the proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA), and information is drabbling out to the public (and to most senators). Here's what we've heard - we will update below as we learn more : The revised bill will add $70 billion in additional money to states to make health care more affordable. As in previous versions, Medicaid will move to a block grant system. However, during public health emergencies, spending will not count towards Medicaid caps. These cuts could mean 15 million fewer people would be insured by Medicaid in 2026. Insurers will have the option to offer plans that do not meet ACA standards as long as at least one of their offerings meets "sufficient minimum coverage" under the ACA. People who enroll in catastrophic health insurance will be able to use subsidies to pay for those plans. $45 billion will be added to combat opiod addiction. Updated 7/13 3:25 PM - T...