Paul Ryan and Republicans Retool TrumpCare to Allow States to Force Some Medicaid Recipients to Work
TrumpCare Near Life Support, Republicans Work to Harm the Poor Even More
34% of Medicaid recipients are blind or disabled. 19% are children. 14% are elderly. Less than one-third, just 32%, are adults, many of whom are single parents or caring for a sick relative.
Only 13% of adults in Medicaid expansion are able bodied and not working, in school or seeking work. 3/4 of those are caring for a relative. https://t.co/XCGaWo72LT
— Charles Ornstein (@charlesornstein) March 21, 2017
In an effort to get hard core conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus to support and vote for TrumpCare, Republicans including Paul Ryan overnight altered the bill that was already passed by three committees to include a provision allowing states to force some Medicaid recipients to work.
So conservatives think we can save a lot of money for tax cuts by forcing able-bodied Medicaid recipients to work. They may face a surprise pic.twitter.com/M7J9x2sCl0
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) March 19, 2017
Speaker Paul Ryan calls these “improvements.” Ryan admitted last week he’s been “dreaming” of cutting Medicaid since his kegger days.
An amendment designed to win conservative votes for Republican ACA repeal would allow states to make Medicaid recipients work off the aid.
— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) March 21, 2017
Meanwhile, it’s unclear exactly who on Medicaid states are going to force to work.
If you’re a single parent on Medicaid, revisions to GOP bill exempt you from work requirements — unless your child is 6 or older: pic.twitter.com/QnLUnBWChP
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) March 21, 2017
“Only 13 percent of adults covered by Medicaid’s expansion are able-bodied and not working, in school, or seeking work. Of that small group, three-quarters report they are not working in order to care for family members and the rest report other reasons, like being laid off,” Health Affairs Blog reports.
This is, of course, just another outcome of the GOP mindset, that believes safety net programs like Medicaid are just handouts to lazy people. Republicans would rather continue their programs of handouts to the rich and to corporations, which, of course, the American Health Care Act, aka TrumpCare, does.
Charles Gaba, who tracks ObamaCare, concludes that “Ryan’s latest scheme … would completely wipe out the $336 billion in savings which the CBO is currently projecting the AHCA to save…which is the only positive bullet point they can brag about at the moment.”Â
Of the Republicans’ latest attack on the American populace, Gaba writes: “The bottom line is that these changes would actually be better for several million people…but in a completely ludicrous way, while also being even more hurtful to millions of other people, and adding several additional layers of paperwork and bureaucracy to boot, which Republicans supposedly can’t stand. Amazing.”
They introduce the bill
Move it through committees w NO hearings BEFORE any CBO score
Then rewrite the bill
And force a vote 3 days later
— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) March 21, 2017
TrumpCare, the Republican plan to repeal and “replace” ObamaCare, is in major trouble. It may not pass the House, leading to a huge loss of power for Republicans, especially Speaker Paul Ryan and President Donald Trump. If it passes the House, chances right now don’t look good for Senate passage.
But Americans cannot afford to be complacent. We must continue to take action to ensure ObamaCare is not repealed.
In Alabama, a Twitter campaign highlights some of the people ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion helps:
I have asthma-sometimes can’t get my breath-TY Medicaid for my inhalers. I love to read w/my mom when she comes home from work. #IamMedicaid pic.twitter.com/2oFdEhsv4R
— I Am Medicaid (@IamMedicaid) March 21, 2017
My cancer is cured but I lost my hearing. Thanks Medicaid for my hearing aids! I love to read now too. #IamMedicaid #ALpolitics pic.twitter.com/Gd7UVxIi6H
— I Am Medicaid (@IamMedicaid) March 19, 2017
I have type 2 diabetes and so does my mom, a nurse. Medicaid is my insurance. I am Alabama’s future. #IamMedicaid #ALpolitics pic.twitter.com/f5fxQNSGaI
— I Am Medicaid (@IamMedicaid) March 16, 2017
I am 3-I can say “ball” and “no.” I just got Medicaid insurance because I have autism and need lots of help. Thanks Medicaid! #IamMedicaid pic.twitter.com/Bfi6T7vQbJ
— I Am Medicaid (@IamMedicaid) March 14, 2017
I just started 3rd grade and I love to read. Medicine helps me learn. Thanks Medicaid! #IamMedicaid #ALpolitics pic.twitter.com/6JBV8oUyFp
— I Am Medicaid (@IamMedicaid) March 12, 2017
#IamMedicaid Today I love my skin getting treatment for severe eczema Thanks Medicaid for my care and medication pic.twitter.com/978jsQo1Fq
— Marsha D Raulerson (@MarshaDRaulerso) January 22, 2017
#IamMedicaid saw pediatrician for Med check Built a tower and reading 2 new books Thanks Al Medicaid I’m the future pic.twitter.com/Ka1coU9GPL
— Marsha D Raulerson (@MarshaDRaulerso) February 5, 2017
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