Republican Governors Have Own Ideas for Healthcare Reforms – Insurance Journal
A group of about a dozen Republican governors is pushing for its own set of national healthcare reforms, flexing its considerable muscle in the national debate over the future of Obamacare as the U.S. Senate begins writing its bill.
Led by Governor John Kasich of Ohio, the governors are using a nine-page proposal they crafted in February as the platform to shape what they think a critical portion of an Obamacare replacement law should look like, according to a half dozen people who helped write the plan.
Among the groups recommendations for the Senate include maintaining the expansion of Medicaid, the government healthinsuranceprogram for the poor and disabled, while also limiting federal spending for certain populations, according to a copy of the proposal.
Members of the group, which include governors from Utah, Tennessee and Michigan, are also now looking to form a bipartisan coalition of states to propose reforms for the individualinsurance market, according to one source, that they hope the Senate will also use.
Gov. John Kasich
They have not yet met or decided on specific reforms about the individualinsurancemarket, but the goal is to address issues such as how to makeinsurancemore affordable and stabilize the markets.
The House of Representatives narrowly passed its national healthcare bill earlier this month, called the American Health Care Act, which would slash federal Medicaid funding by more than $800 billion over the next decade.
It has prompted fierce criticism from both Republican and Democratic governors.
Kasich recently called the bill inadequate, and said it would leave millions of people without affordable coverage and living in the emergency rooms again.
Pressure is building from their constituents.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll, which has been tracking public opinion on health care issues for the past several years, has found that Republicans are more supportive than they were in 2013 of benefits including expanded Medicaid andinsurancesubsidies for low-income families and a government requirement that small businesses provideinsurancefor their employees.
The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English across the United States and gathered responses from 2,126 adults, including 887 Republicans. It has a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of 2 percentage points for the entire group and 4 percentage points for Republicans.
The governors group is looking to the Senate for massive changes as they begin writing their own bill.
Several groups, from insurers and hospitals to medical groups and patient advocates, are trying to influence the Senate. But the governors carry extra weight because they will ultimately be responsible for implementing whatever healthcare overhaul is signed into law, and Republicans in Congress have repeatedly spoken about the need to have fewer federal regulations apply to Medicaid and commercialinsurance.
Under Obamacare, more than 30 states, including about a dozen Republican-led states, expanded Medicaid. One of the thorniest issues Republicans have grappled with is treating both expansion and non-expansion states equally. Governors from both types of states united to craft Medicaid proposals in the hope that their voice would carry added weight and provide a surer path for lawmakers.
The governors are also in the same boat politically as U.S. senators because both are elected statewide, rather than in smaller districts as House representatives are. So many governors and their senators have been better aligned on what healthcare reform should look like, several of the sources said.
Several governors and their staff said they have been in regular contact with their senators, and will be pushing for the Senate to use the governors set of reforms as a framework in writing its bill.
Senator Rob Portman of Ohio wrote in an op-ed Monday that he and other senators tasked with writing a healthcare bill have continued to engage with governors, many of who share my concerns about Medicaid but who also want more flexibility to ensure they can design health care programs that meet the individual needs of their states.
He added that the Senate will continue to work with governors on healthcare reform.
They are definitely hearing our concerns and questions. They have been very attentive to our interests, said Nathan Checketts, deputy director of the Utah Department of Health.
The group of Republican governors has worked to have a unified voice to reconcile needs among a diverse set of states, including Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, Arkansas and Nevada. Its leaders, which also include Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan and Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona, deliberately chose some participants from states with influential Republican senators who would become key players in a federal healthcare overhaul.
A 13-member Senate panel has been tasked with writing a healthcare bill, and at least five of its senators are from states from the Republican governors group, including Portman, Orrin Hatch of Utah, Mike Lee of Utah and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee.
Other Republican senators with governors in the group including Dean Heller of Nevada and Jeff Flake of Arizona are up for reelection in 2018.
As Senate Republicans take up the bill, one of the most complicated policy and political issues they must grapple with is Medicaid reform.
States that expanded Medicaid, such as Ohio and Michigan, have said a healthcare overhaul must protect those who gained coverage under Obamacare. Non-expansion states, meanwhile, have said they do not want to be penalized with less federal funding because they did not expand and therefore cover fewer people.
The governors proposal recommends maintaining Obamacares Medicaid expansion and giving other states the opportunity to expand, but capping federal spending on certain populations through either block grants or per capita caps.
It would provide states the option to phase in other groups, such as parents and children, to per capita caps or block grants, and it recommends reducing federal regulations on states and their Medicaid programs.
(Additional reporting by Chris Kahn; Editing by Caroline Humer and Edward Tobin)
Follow this link:
Republican Governors Have Own Ideas for Healthcare Reforms - Insurance Journal
- Republican Rep. Joe Wilson announces plan to propose $250 bill featuring Trump - Fox News - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- The Republican House Budget Resolution's Potential $880 Billion in Medicaid Cuts by Congressional District - Center For American Progress - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES: THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN BUDGET RESOLUTION WILL SET IN MOTION THE LARGEST MEDICAID CUT IN AMERICAN HISTORY Congressman Hakeem Jeffries -... - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- What's in the House Republican budget bill? | The Excerpt - USA TODAY - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Heres Whats in the House Republican Budget and What Comes Next - The New York Times - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Rep. Carbajal on the House Passing the Republican Budget That Slashes Funding for Medicaid and SNAP - Salud Carbajal - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Republican Heather Hill, Appalachian entrepreneur, is inspired by tragedies to run for Ohio governor - Washington Times - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Warren Davidson is the latest Republican to oppose the House budget - POLITICO - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- What is in the just-passed House Republican budget bill? What to know - USA TODAY - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Evers takes his budget on the road. Will Republican lawmakers hear from voters? - Wisconsin Examiner - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- A Georgia Republican known for her `Jesus, Guns and Babies' slogan is running for Congress - The Associated Press - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- The end of USAID? For this Republican aid expert, it's too early to tell - Devex - February 12th, 2025 [February 12th, 2025]
- AARP Makes the Republican Case for Adding a Caregiver Tax Credit - ThinkAdvisor - February 12th, 2025 [February 12th, 2025]
- Republican lawmaker is fundraising off petition to 'arrest and deport' Rep. Ilhan Omar to Somalia - New York Post - February 12th, 2025 [February 12th, 2025]
- The Republican war on science takes a drastic turn for the worse - MSNBC - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- Another Republican senator goes against Trump's 'poorly conceived' NIH funding cuts - ABC News - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- As an Elected Republican Who Believes in the Rapture, This Is My Chance to Shine - McSweeney's Internet Tendency - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- Hochul Halts Bill Aimed at Weakening Republican Control of House - The New York Times - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- We are witnessing the rise of a new Republican Southern Strategy - The Guardian US - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- State Democratic and Republican party chairs look forward to governors race - GBH News - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- John Jagler Talks Republican Bill Aiming To Reverse DPI Standards - Daily Dodge - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- House Republican schemes to deprive millions of women of voting rights - People's World - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- Republican Senator launches investigation into Jason Krasley, who landed a job at a top sex-abuse watchdog but was recently charged with sex abuse -... - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- Jeff Kaufmann reelected to lead Republican Party of Iowa - Iowa Public Radio - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- Republican AGs back Trump federal employee buyout as judge decides 'Fork in the Road' directive's fate - Fox Business - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- Republican Club of Longboat Key ready to kick off 2025 year with first event - Your Observer - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- Republican Veterans in Congress Are Privately Lobbying Trump on Resettling Afghan Allies - NOTUS - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- Meet 'Republican hair': It's blonde, bouncy, and really doesn't have a political party - Business Insider - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- Republican state AGs back Trump birthright citizenship order in court filing: 'Taxpayers are on the hook' - Fox News - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- Opinion: Trump didnt break the Republican Party. He harnessed it. - Salt Lake Tribune - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- NEW: Republican Reconciliation Bill Could Slash Medicaid Benefits for 22 Million Americans to Extend Tax Cuts for Billionaires - Democrats.org - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- DEI not to blame in crash, says top Republican overseeing FAA - POLITICO - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- Two reasons why a Republican could win this years race for governor | Moran - NJ.com - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- Exclusive | Ted Cruz Leads Republican Charge to Defund Consumer-Protection Agency - The Wall Street Journal - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- The Trump Economy Begins: How a Republican Congress Could Impact Those Relying on Social Security - Yahoo Finance - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- Selena Gomez laughs off Republican calling to deport her over Ice raid video - The Guardian US - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- This Republican Senator Says Trump Needs to Hear Dissent. Will He Speak Up? - The New York Times - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- A Republican court candidate in North Carolina wants to toss out thousands of votes - NPR - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Republican Senators Call on Trump to Rethink Revoked Security Details - The New York Times - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Republican attorneys general urge Costco to jump off the DEI bandwagon - Washington Times - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- John Fetterman Addresses Speculation That He's Becoming a Republican - Newsweek - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Opinion | Trump Didnt Break the Republican Party. He Harnessed It. - The New York Times - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Who Are the Three Republican Senators Who Voted Against Pete Hegseth? - The New York Times - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- A Republican-led group is running ads in NC opposing the GOP attempt to throw out ballots - NC Newsline - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Republican county committees to hold event spotlighting Mainer pardoned for January 6th riot - Maine Public - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Tennessee Republican womens group cites Hitler in promoting its reading list - Chattanooga Times Free Press - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- North Carolinas Republican justices signal support for overturning Democratic judges election - Mother Jones - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- House Republican introduces long-shot measure to let Trump seek a third term - Axios - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Can Trump handle the new Republican factions? - Financial Times - January 22nd, 2025 [January 22nd, 2025]
- Column: I watched Trump's inauguration with a Democrat and a Republican. Here's what they saw - Los Angeles Times - January 22nd, 2025 [January 22nd, 2025]
- Scott Bottoms, Republican state representative, will run for Colorado governor in 2026 - The Colorado Sun - January 22nd, 2025 [January 22nd, 2025]
- Inside The Farce Of Swaying Republican Senators On Trumps Nominees - TPM - January 22nd, 2025 [January 22nd, 2025]
- Congress moving more slowly than Trump on Republican agenda - Semafor - January 22nd, 2025 [January 22nd, 2025]
- Republican Lawmaker Calls for Bishop to Be Deported for Telling Trump to Have 'Mercy' on Scared Children - LatinTimes - January 22nd, 2025 [January 22nd, 2025]
- Republican Senators find their spines hiding behind a brave woman - Boing Boing - January 22nd, 2025 [January 22nd, 2025]
- Idaho Republican Party says it needs help paying its rent for Boise HQ - Idaho Capital Sun - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- As Trump takes office again, he has even more sway over the Republican Party - NPR - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- The Battle over Veterans Health Care: How the Republican Majority Hopes to Reshape the VA - Military.com - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- Sheriffs are going to be emboldened: Republican sheriffs are raring to implement Trumps deportation plans. - POLITICO - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- The Battle Over Veterans Health Care: How the Republican Majority Hopes to Reshape VA - The War Horse - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- Ten US Senate Democrats help advance Republican bill on migrants accused of theft - Reuters - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- Republican SNAP Proposals Could Take Food Away From Millions of Low-Income Individuals and Families - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- Republican infighting flares after Burrows elected speaker - The Texas Tribune - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- Republican states can move ahead with abortion pill lawsuit in Texas - Reuters - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- Republican Governance Group wants to live up to its name - Roll Call - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- Cuomo on the Ballot? Adams as a Republican? Candidates Have Limited Options and Little Time - THE CITY - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- Lancaster County Republican suggests issues Trump should include in his inaugural address [column] - LNP | LancasterOnline - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- Porn case in the Supreme Court this week is about protecting children, says Republican AG - Fox News - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]
- Fox News Host Presses Republican on Trump Plan'Is This Really Realistic?' - Newsweek - January 6th, 2025 [January 6th, 2025]
- Just before Trump takes office, Meta is replacing its top policy exec with a prominent Republican - CNN - January 6th, 2025 [January 6th, 2025]
- Connolly Statement on Republican Rules Package for the 119th Congress - Gerry Connolly - January 6th, 2025 [January 6th, 2025]
- Altria donation pushes Republican Party of Kentucky headquarters building fund to $3.65 million - User-generated content - January 6th, 2025 [January 6th, 2025]
- 'Is it realistic to deport everybody?' Top Senate Republican on Donald Trump's mass deportation promises - USA TODAY - January 6th, 2025 [January 6th, 2025]
- Meta's Nick Clegg to step down, will be replaced by well-connected Republican - Axios - January 6th, 2025 [January 6th, 2025]
- Meta Taps Republican as New Head of Global Policy - The Wall Street Journal - January 6th, 2025 [January 6th, 2025]
- GRI Action Workshop # 7: The Republican Agenda What It Is, Where It Came From, How We Can Serve the Common Good - Redheaded Blackbelt - January 6th, 2025 [January 6th, 2025]
- Adam Kinzinger Brutally Sums Up The 'Entire' Republican Party With Just 1 Acronym - HuffPost - January 6th, 2025 [January 6th, 2025]
- Another Democratic state lawmaker in Florida is joining the Republican party - The Associated Press - January 6th, 2025 [January 6th, 2025]
- Republican Allegedly Refusing To Lower Flags to Half-Staff Sparks Anger - Newsweek - January 6th, 2025 [January 6th, 2025]
- Mike Johnson Elected House Speaker After Republican Holdouts Change Their Votes in the First Round - PEOPLE - January 6th, 2025 [January 6th, 2025]