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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 14 March 2017

Congress’ analyst: Millions to lose coverage under GOP bill

Continued from Front premiums for those who let
coverage lapse. It would
That’s largely because it phase out Obama’s ex-
would cut the federal-state pansion of Medicaid to 11
Medicaid program for low- million additional low earn-
income Americans and ers, cap federal spend-
eliminate subsidies that ing for the entire program,
Obama’s law provides to repeal taxes the statute
millions of people who buy imposes and halt federal
coverage. payments to Planned Par-
It also said that while the enthood for a year.
legislation would push pre- Administration officials
miums upward before 2020 took strong issue with the
by an average of 15 to 20 budget office’s projections
percent compared to cur- of lost coverage.
rent law, premiums would “We believe that our plan
move lower after that. By will cover more individuals
2026, average premiums and at a lower cost and
for individuals would be 10 give them the choices that
percent lower than under they want,” Price said.
Obama’s statute, it said. And House Speaker Ryan
The GOP bill would oblit- said in a statement the
erate the tax penalties GOP legislation “is not
Obama’s law imposes on about forcing people to Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, left, and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, right,
answer questions outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 13,
people who don’t buy buy expensive, one-size- 2017, after Congress’ nonpartisan budget analyst reports that 14 million people would lose cover-
coverage, and it would fits-all coverage. age next year under Republican health plan.
eliminate the federal subsi- It is about giving people (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
dies reflecting peoples’ in- more choices and better
come and premium costs access to a plan they want crats said. Senate Minority down, have been..” sociation, which has op-
for millions. and can afford.” In fact, Leader Chuck Schumer of “I hope they would pull posed the Republican bill
It instead would provide on the Fox News Channel, New York said the projec- the bill. It’s really the only because it would reduce
tax credits based largely he said the CBO report tions show “just how emp- decent thing to do,” said coverage, said the report
on recipients’ ages, let “exceeded my expecta- ty the president’s prom- House Minority Leader shows the legislation would
insurers charge more for tions.” ises, that everyone will be Nancy Pelosi of California. cause “unacceptable”
older people and boost Not in a good way, Demo- covered and costs will go The American Medical As- consequences. “q
Senate confirms Trump pick to head Medicare and Medicaid

RICARDO ZALDIVAR Pence, was approved by over at CMS as a House Re- could leave 24 million more that covers more than 70
Associated Press a 55-43 vote, largely along publican health care bill people uninsured by 2026, million low-income people.
WASHINGTON (AP) — party lines. She’ll head the backed by Trump would the Congressional Budget In Indiana, Verma designed
President Donald Trump’s Centers for Medicare and make sweeping changes Office said Monday in an a Medicaid expansion
pick to run Medicare and Medicaid Services, a $1 to the agency. assessment that’s bound along conservative lines for
Medicaid won confirma- trillion agency that over- That legislation would roll to complicate the bill’s al- Pence. Most beneficiaries
tion Monday from a divid- sees health insurance pro- back key elements of ready difficult path. are required to pay modest
ed Senate as lawmakers grams for more than 130 former President Barack With a background in pub- premiums.
braced for another epic million people, from elderly Obama’s health care law, lic health, Verma has said At her Senate confirmation
battle over the govern- nursing home residents to including its Medicaid ex- she wants government pro- hearing, Verma defended
ment’s role in health care newborns. It’s part of the pansion for low-income grams to improve health, her approach by saying
and society’s responsibility Department of Health and people. More significantly, not just pay bills. She’s been that low-income people
toward the vulnerable. Human Services. the GOP bill would limit critical of Medicaid, saying are fully capable of mak-
Indiana health care consul- Verma, a first-generation overall federal financing for “the status quo is not ac- ing health care decisions
tant Seema Verma, a pro- American whose parents Medicaid in the future. Tak- ceptable” for the federal- based on rational incen-
tégé of Vice President Mike emigrated from India, takes en together, those changes state insurance program tives. q