Well someone has to pay for the massive tax cuts, tax subsidies and tax breaks given to the wealthy by Trump don't they?
4
This will also kill off a large number of frail individuals. Here is a perfect reason why government health care does not work and needs to be reformed. To many types of government care in the pot. Medicare for all with a private backup is the answer and drop everything else. From cradle to casket for all.
Memo to Democrats. Trump wants to chuck grandma out of the nursing home. Might want to say something about it.
59
I wonder what Charles Dickens would say....also what would Jesus say? Seriously.....these anti-American people are so greedy it is stunning.
5
Great. More sick poor people. For those who think it's perfectly okay to cut off Medicaid, just think of how you, personally, or your family, might be affected. Sick poor people cooking and serving your food; using the same pumps at the gas station; sitting next to your kids in school. This policy is not only inhumane, it's really bad for everyone. We are all in this together, whether we believe it or not.
1
The Trump Doctrine: The rich get richer. Corporations get more powerful. The poor get screwed.
1
The average Trump supporter would have his/her mind-blown if they ever lived in one of the actual real democracies in the world...in Europe, or even just up north in Canada. They would be totally shocked and bewildered by how much better a life average people lead in countries where most of the money doesn't go to the top.
4
If conservatives have been trying to do this for decades, what has prevented them until now from doing it? Is it acknowledgment that Congress has to approve such changes, acknowledgment that "the Great Divider" Trump no longer gives away because of his expansive view of executive power?
This article seems more in line with "spectacle" journalism that doesn't allow for such obvious explanations. Of course this executive overreach will be challenged in court, and of course it should be overturned because of course Congress has to approve such major changes. But, with so many Trumpian judges around and Congress immobilized by gridlock, that doesn't mean it will be overturned, and of course our national disgrace of a president will be dissuaded from more overreaches.
1
Regardless of how it's spun beforehand, tax cuts don't pay for themselves. It should come as no surprise then that cuts to domestic spending are being proposed after the massive tax cut last year. As usual, those with the least political power will suffer so that those with it don't.
44
I just did my taxes. After doing so, I compared my last few returns. Since the tax cuts, I’m keeping approximately 4-5k additional every year.
In return, my fellow Americans are losing health insurance. We’ve also lost funding for our National Parks. We’ve also lost over 100 scientists who worked within the EPA and other government agencies. 700,000 Americans are losing access to food. The list goes on.
Some of us, hopefully most of us, place value in things other than money. Kindness, honesty, empathy, democracy, treating others as we want to be treated, and helping others less fortunate than ourselves.
Keep my money. I don’t want it. I prefer that people not suffer from starvation, lack of medical care and eventual homelessness.
Check your values, America.
10
He always smiles most broadly when he is stabbing people in the back.
4
This might make sense if we could cap the number of people who get sick. Since that ain't gonna happen, we will instead see more people untreated and higher ultimate costs, including death. Stupid, short-sighted, cruel.
5
For the time being, all poor Americans have free Medicaid coverage, which provides them basic coverage of most of their health care costs. The vast majority of those who are covered by Medicaid are poor Democrats, Meanwhile, 30 million Americans have no health insurance. Almost all of them are working class Republicans.
The Democrats pretend be the champions of health care for all. But they champion poor Democrats at the expense of working class Republicans. Democrats treat health care like a political football. They reward those who vote Democrat. Those who vote Republican are ignored.
6
Where do you get this stuff? The largest demographic of poor Americans are children. And, geographically, they are disproportionately concentrated in the states that have rejected Medicaid expansion - Trump territory. We certainly do deserve to be judged by how we treat the least powerful and most helpless among us.
52
Entitled how to make more people homeless is their plan. What is next, concentration camps?
2
Hey, Trumpers, he's coming for Medicare next, you betcha.
1
Trump at his best when he's hurting people.
3
States with large numbers of undocumented immigrants should pay attention. Sick or injured people will still need care which hospitals (by oath) must provide. State taxes must make up the difference for the emergency room visits when Medicaid funds are exhausted.
Verma always takes delight in cutting benefits, not providing coverage for her fellow Americans. She and her president, with their complicated formulas that benefit Big Pharma, insurance giants and hospitals, are why many of us favor a stripped down Medicare for all type of program.
1
I love the New York Times and read it front to back every day but the people most affected by cuts to Medicaid don’t read it and they helped elect Trump . The poor must be informed and convinced by election time to vote for a Democrat.
4
It's about national healthcare not helping the poor but sabotaging any image that healthcare can be socially acceptable and work. The VA is under attack because although there are many problems such as not being able to sue physicians, it has been able to provide healthcare care to millions of veterans. The two Wars overwhelmed the system and lack of funding from the GOP Congress diminished their capability of responding to patients' needs, mental care. Medicare is next because Wall Street wants to gamble with pensioner's money. Let's hope the 2020 election can get these "hyenas" out of office before we lose more working poor.
You know what, a good portion of the population voted for and continues to support the administration. So whatever. I support the ACA despite it doing absolutely nothing for me, but if the beneficiaries support dismantling it, by supporting the admin, who am I to tell others what is in their best interest.
Curious choice to focus on the sustainability of a program that consumes a sliver of the annual budget. Consider how the people with means to pay taxes and cover their own healthcare costs will be covering the healthcare costs of those who can't afford it, one way or another. Either by a government program supporting it, or increased health care costs due to ad hoc ER facility visits supporting it. Total costs will be greater, and outcomes will diminish.
1
Slashing medical coverage for the poor:
So much "winning" by Donald Trump.
Vote for a Democrat in November.
The Democrats aren't trying to kill people by taking away their healthcare.
The Donald, what a guy -- I got mine, my rich friends got theirs, as for the rest of you, tough luck.
2
The GOP has been trying to get this passed for years. Cut taxes, spend billions on new military toys and cuts services on those who have no say. We voted for these clowns. We did this.
1
The notice for the changes I think says that it is limited to recipients "for whom Medicaid coverage is optional for states." There are a whole lot of medicaid programs. The AHCA medicaid program is optional; the ones connected with receipt of public benefits are not. I don't know which of the other medicaid programs are optional.
1
This, from the “pro life” party. Not so pro the life of poor people.
10
The Republicans always repeat the same tactics in their strategy to destroy our democratic republic and any gains for the working class, women and people of color:
1. Huge tax cuts for the very very wealthy.
2. Start wars - often based on lies and or false pretenses.
3. Run up military spending massively based on "2"
4. Cause giant budget deficit and increasing debt because of "1" - "4" above.
5. Cut the safetynet for the working classes, middle classes, women and people of of colr based on the excuse of what they caused in item "4" above.
6. While their at it, they use every means of manipulation to stack the legislatures with puppets for the corporatist plutocrats who will always vote to eviscerate:
a. Democracy
b. Voting Rights, Civil Rights, Human Rights, etc.
c. Environmental, Safety and other Regulation
d. Economic, Social, and other Justice
The Gang of Plutocrats work tirelessly, applying ancient tried and true fascists tactics, exploitation of religion and wedge issues, as well as modern framing, spin and other Orwellian distortion of language tactics in working to fulfill their vision of a world where they are the Lords and everyone else is a "sub-human." They put Ayn Rand's dangerous fiction as a model for their utter lack of humanity, ethics and morality.
Ayn Rand was on both Social Security and Medicare when he died. Do you think Trump cares that he is breaking his promise on Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security? - Never any Truth from this thing.
16
Trump’s lying exposed. He said he was going to help needy Americans get health coverage. Here he is doing just the opposite. It saddens me that the majority of Trump supporters who need this help the most still support him and hate other Americans who want to help them. Republican propaganda has been very successful.
8
How about just making it illegal for the poor to become sick?
7
"Medicaid has always provided unlimited federal matching"
That is the root of the problem. Given a "credit card" with unlimited benefits limits states like New York grant a bouquet of benefits to recipients. Unlike the struggling middle class Medicaid recipients can utilize as many services as they want with zero consequences.
3
Have you ever BEEN on Medicaid? No walk in the park.
3
"diminish the number of people receiving health benefits" through Medicare and Medicaid?
Every time you think Trump and his gang couldn't [possible sink and lower and flaunt depraved indifference to the health, welfare, and lives of the "little people," they find a way to do something even worse.
The real question is why are those people smiling so broadly in the lead photo? They're HAPPY to be cutting healthcare benefits for old people and the poor? Talk about the depths of depravity!
11
The way to trick Trump voters to accept lower Medicare and Medicaid payment is to frame it in such a way that illegals will get lower payment as well.
3
Well isn’t this the most unsurprising move ever. Trump and his ghouls have to make up for those billionaire tax cuts somehow might as well take it from all those MAGA voters who put him in office they don’t know the difference! Next up vulnerable seniors they won’t know either!
9
More great news from the masters of misery.
7
How is Trump going to pay for all those billions in tax cuts for billionaires? He's going to do it the Republican way! On the backs of the poor and middle class, that's how. After all, the poor and middle class can't afford Republican representation the way the NRA does.
"Guns? Yes! As many as we can sell!"
"Healthcare? Sorry! You're on your own there buddy!"
7
You wonder whether the WH doesn't understand that much of its base falls into this demographic, and that some might relaocate to adjacent blue states that offer better benefits.
4
Extremely poor parents of small children makes no sense in a couple of respects. Enabling programs does no good for the planet’s sustainability. Nature is cruel and the planet was fine until soft-hearted humans came along to screw it up with their morality.
1
The cruelty is always the point with Trump and his cronies.
5
Not only does the Trump administration want to limit immigrants of color, it wants the poorest Americans to die.
4
Everything Trump touches dies. He has the Midas touch in reverse. He is dismantling America for a Trump Tower Moscow and a North Korean waterfront casino to be named at a later date.
4
I forsee a new Bloomberg commercial in the works. We all know that Bernie, Elizabeth and Joe will fail to remind the public of this move.
3
Let’s hope so. But the democrats are notoriously poor at messaging
Transforming Medicaid in a way that led to 17,000 people in Arkansas losing coverage in 2018 shoes real progress in a negative direction. This creates overcrowding in the emergency departments, longer wait times, and a payment system that is going to be our burden. The legitimate patients needing services, medical management of symptoms will be relegated to back of the line. While the frequent flyers get attention that could have been attended to in a physician’s office or urgicenter. While the gun chanting individuals perpetuate their King-in-chief, they will complain no one is paying attention to them in their rural Emergency departments. They will have their guns though. Next is MEDICARE—SOCIAL SECURITY – and then we are back in the 1930’s. Such a progressive society we are and as a nation we move in a backward direction. Thanks to the Republican Party which at this point is not for fiscal responsibility, but just plain ignorant. The USA will have two kinds of people living here ultrarich and the working Poor. No thanks. This needs to change.
7
At the State of the Union address Trump can add this to his list of accomplishments along with his recent decision to remove restrictions on the use of civilian killing land mines by our military forces.
7
Trumpism is based on scapegoating...poor people, people of color, immigrants, children, the elderly, etc...just like Nazism.
15
Gotta keep those poors from ripping off the system for a free MRI. As long as we treat medical care as a luxury that should be earned, we won’t fix our sick system.
14
Robbing the poor to feed the rich, typical GOP SOP. I just don't understand how people keep falling for it.
13
Cut health care for the poorest Americans so the richest can get tax cuts. America is exceptional.
10
Trump-Pence, both profess their Christian values, yet both ignore every teaching of Jesus; most recently by way of denying medical care for the least fortunate amongst us.
WWJS to this plan?
15
Just when you thought he had a good shot at reelection...
1
Not only is Trump cutting aid for the poorest of the poor (they dont contribuute to politicians) he is cutting into Medicare and Tricare. Tricare for Life was promised to veterans and their families but Trump has mismanaged our Treasury to the point that there is no money. He is strangling the military by taking the money appropriated for base upkeep, food and morale and recreation . God only knows what Navy ships look like without upkeep. He accused our soldiers of faking concussions! The man and the GOP must go!
9
Your short term memory apparently forgot that Obama and the Democrats cut over 800 billion dollars from Medicare funding.
1
@ William McCain
No. I have not forgotten. The Obama cuts were mainly directed at payments to drug companies and long term care providers, not to help pay for the tax reductions to the richest people in our country or to corporations, essentially payoffs to trump supporters.
1
We are about to see “dear leader” Trump that “can do whatever I want” thanks to Mitch McConnell and Senate Republican enablers.
This is going to get very ugly.
BTW, our corporate Supreme Court is also ignoring their oath:
"I, [NAME], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as [TITLE] under the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me God.''
Hmmmmm. . . “equal right to the poor and to the rich. . .”
4
Republicans are sociopaths. What is it going to take to remove them from power? How much further damage can they do between now and November? I really understand now how Germany went from a democracy to a fascist state. The Nazis just used the tools of democracy to make it happen, as the Republicans are.
10
TRUMP 1920
5
I am a lawyer and an accountant. I found the issues raised in this article extremely difficult to work through. It is therefore hard for me to believe Trump was behind this change because you would really need to thoughtfully study the issue before you could make an informed decision. That is the danger of having a dope in the White House. He can be easily manipulated by those who know what they are doing. This is the true cost of all Trump’s nonsense.
5
Why do Republican officials have big smiles when they smash the programs that actually help needy people? The most despicable photograph showed all the Republican congresspeople all cheery at their BBQ on the White House lawn after voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
And now this!
7
Cool! Drive up prices to those least able to pay and start the end of “Obama care” at the same time. Who says trump can’t walk and chew gum at the same time? The little people be damned...
4
He’s a pig , all for him nothing for anyone else
4
Voters are stupid. Period.
3
Yet another move in the Racist In Chief's effort to undo ANYTHING that The Black President did.
7
Republicans rob from the poor to give to the rich. There was a word for these people in the sixties. That word was: PIGS. Greedy, selfish, liars and thieves. Worst of all they cloak their cruelty under the guise of their vile faux Christianity. They are as Christ-like as a spitoon. They must be defeated and removed from our government at every level and consigned to the ash heap of history. Where they have long belonged. Pigs.
4
Tax cuts for the wealthy aren't going to pay for themselves, people.
14
'so glad all these folks in the photo are smiling - they should be vomiting, but hey, MAGA. I READ THAT "The announcement by Ms. Verma, who often speaks of wanting to “transform” Medicaid, comes as her efforts to let states require adults on Medicaid to work or train for a job — which led to 17,000 people in Arkansas losing coverage in 2018 — are mired in court battles."
YA THINK? If even half these 17,000 in one state are really milking the system, which I don't believe, then 8,500 folks are being thrown under the bus. Folks that aren't alone, but who are heads of families, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, grandparents,a lot of multipliers here.
What kind of people, rich on the Trump tax cuts, well-off, can really smile when this is going on?
7
Wow. First the tax act that was a huge unneeded gift to corporations and the wealthiest among us, and now cutting off medical care for poor people. The cult of trump is absolutely astonishing. In four more years, the country will be not just financially bankrupt but morally bankrupt as well.
8
Trump voters are all suffering from Stockholm syndrome. The more he abuses them the louder they scream MAGA!
7
I just how many white Americans in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and Florida will be affected by the I’m policy. Perhaps they should think twice for whom they would vote in November.
4
i hope these good folks in the red states, especially the in the deep south, remember this broken promise on election day, when they suddenly find that their already minimal health care and basic subsistence allowance for food suddenly disappears.
9
The base will L O V E this.
4
On the backs of the poor and lower middle class. And many of them will vote again for the grifter-in-chief and his henchmen.
8
The voters got what they voted for. Those people who I know deserve every loss of coverage for blindly voting for a crook who only grubs for money from donors. People you get zero and will probably suffer horribly before you die.
4
I honestly am so sickened by Republicans. They have inflicted this tyranny of the minority "government" on us, led by the most vile man I have ever seen in public life. They cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires and cut food stamps and healthcare for the poor. Then have the gall to call themselves "pro-life" "Christians." They are the most anti-life, unChristian group of people.
10
that man's health care plan - JDD - Just Drop Dead.
8
So we’ve reached ‘peak Orwell’ where up is down, wrong is right and people who know better fear telling the truth. Another attempt to cut services for tge poor who are already ill-equipped to fight back. We shouldn’t be surprised. Aren’t they still stealing kids from people and putting them in cages?
5
Aw, let ‘em drop dead in the streets, those deadbeat leeches. Who needs sick and injured poor people anyhow? They’re costing us more than they’re making us. What good are they?
Now, let’s hurry up and get off to church, demonstrating our own fresh-scrubbed goodness.
7
What an ugly and vindictive thing this administration is.
6
Vote every single Republican out. Clean sweep. Then decontaminate the place to get rid of the stench of them.
5
So now Alabama can throw grandma out of the nursing home? So now Mississippi can deny pregnant mothers any services at all? So now the Carolinas can begin to wean people off their kidney dialysis? Trump's great America just keeps getting better and better. What's next? I know, lets bring back chain gangs to the Southern prison systems. Those were the days!
5
Jesus told his followers, "Whatever you do to these, the least (most vulnerable) of my brothers and sisters, you are doing to me." (Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25)
I wonder what the so-called Christians supporting this inhumanly-cruel man in the White House will say to their Lord when he calls them to account.
7
cut taxes cut benefits = mission accomplished ... how's the trickle down treaten' ya now?
3
Families Will Save Money Under Medicare For All
https://tytarmy.org/2019/06/26/families-will-save-money-under-medicare-for-all/
Why do republicans hate Americans?
5
Republican policies are like a slow-acting eugenics program for the poor and marginalized.
6
Sorry but isn’t the appropriate headline “Trump slashes Medicare — Americans across the country to lose benefits”?
NYT editors choose the worst times to soft pedal really critical and existentially important news.
5
Trump to the poor: “Get sick and die.”
3
This really reminds me of the Dead Kennedys lyric:
Gonna kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor
Kill kill kill kill kill the poor tonight
It seems like most Americans are united only in their dislike of other Americans. Apparently, we just hate each other.
6
Allowing states to pocket some of the unspent federal money is an invitation to all sorts of misfeasance.
7
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid director should not be a political appointee.
9
"omit traditional Medicaid benefits like long-term care, transportation to medical appointments and retroactive coverage for people who got care in the months before they got Medicaid."
If this comes to pass, I know several elderly, down and out people who will be escorted out of their already dismally degraded nursing homes (paid for by medicaid) and basically placed on the curb. Where are they supposed to go? Don't middle class people realize that if you live long enough and/or have a debilitating health problem you will burn through any savings and have to sell your home while you still have years left to live. Then what will you do? You think you're secure and don't count yourself as "poor" so you don't care now. This breaks my heart.
My 17 year old son proposed an idea: ALL federally elected or appointed government positions--from president to judges to congresspeople etc. should be required to have attended and graduated from PUBLIC schools and universities. Period. No exceptions. Anyone who wants a high level position should have a PHd from a public university. I am tired of these rich know-nothing know it alls. I am tired of the private school-ivy league pipeline who so delicately skewer the lives of those they consider beneath them to earn a few photo opps and pad their resumes.
7
I am certain if anyone who is on Medicaid inherited $300 mil or so that Donald Trump received will not need federal or state help for their healthcare or living expenses. In fact, I am sure most will do much better than Donald without the need to lie every minute.
7
Travesty. It’s time to fully privatize — take the governance of the basic necessities of life out of the hands of politicians and bureaucrats, and put it in the hands of individuals. They are able to choose an economically and socially sane system of distributed risk, right?
2
A blessing in disguise?
Polls show that even Democrats, me included, believe that the democratic field is too far left and impotent against the trump election. But that was before Davos.
Now, with the administration making all efforts to reduce the Medicaid rolls by hook or by crook, perhaps those who have voted against their own better interests, will now be impacted in such a way as to make them understand that or how THEIR lives are going to be negatively impacted, too.
The only candidates running ads are Bloomberg and Steyer - they are purposefully reaching out, nationally, addressing issues central to the nation: healthcare, deficits, spending, and corruption.
Meanwhile, the Democratic committees are all silent.
4
The only reason to run TV ads is if you believe those watching can be influenced and if they are more influenced than those who consume other forms of media. Traditional TV is primarily consumed by older Americans who tend to vote Republican.
The old sustainability canard. No, Seema. The solution is to eliminate the cap on income taxed for SS, and tax dividends at the same rate as wages.
3
From the start of the Trump Presidency, it’s as if he and his like-minded cronies want to eradicate the poor, the disabled, people of color, and non-Christians. They advocate policy and legislation that result in making desperate people even more marginalized. I’m ashamed of Trump’s America. God help us.
5
Trump is getting back now at all the Dems who need to survive on this. The churches in America support to see this happen and refuse to speak up when it does. Very sad.
3
MedicAid is the third most popular Gubmint program in human history. Social Security is the most popular followed closely by MediCare and MedicAid.
Thanks FDR and President Johnson.
My boomer parents in western New York hate voted for Trump because he wasn't Hillary. Years of indoctrination from radio, Fox News and Facebook turned them from blue when I was a kid to deep red 25 years later. I've pointed out that a vote for Trump is vote for slashes to entitlements that they've earned, and really, really need. They didn't believe it. But even now, they'll likely thank him and vote for him again. My father will tell me that it's Pelosi's fault. I guarentee it. What to do? I've run out of patience with them.
13
@k
Amazing but true. Trump's plays the religion card and they all fall in line, despite the fact he's no more Christian than the devil. He IS the devil.
Mention abortion and they fall to their knees.
You'd think his threat to cut SS and Medicare would wake them up.
Is it his white supremacy that the 63 million Trumpists are voting for?
1
Why aren't the Democratic candidates broadcasting this abomination in the loudest voices imaginable? Why isn't Bloomberg using his millions to run FB and YouTube ads to point out what this administration is doing? Cutting funds to Medicare/Medicaid/SSI is a game-changer.
If the Democrats don't challenge this fiercely, it will explain why many voters feel they are ineffective and useless.
9
I had the same thought. If the situation were reversed, Republicans in the public eye would be angrily screaming at the top of their lungs. What is wrong with the Democratic leadership?! Why are they quiet?
4
Trillions gifted to millionaires and billionaires and the fix is denying suffering Americans comfort and care.
9
Trump administration, more and more and more eroding and destroying the humanity of our now less-great nation.
4
Putting the immorality and social destructiveness of it to one side,
I have to question the politics of it. Why announce it before the election, when it is sure to be used against him ? Sure, it will fire up his base, but he has that base anyway; he doesn't have to throw it red meat every single day.
3
If Trump wins another term, and if the Senate majority remains in Republican hands, I am beginning to think that there actually may indeed be another armed civil war in the not too distant future. The Republicans and their fake Christian religious zealots are obviously full of hatred toward a majority of Americans and a lust for power and control, but I don't think they realize that there are about 200 or more million Americans who just aren't going to accept returning to the 19th Century, or what may be the GOP's preferred era of the 15th. When you have a government and Supreme Court whose philosophy and politics are heading in the opposite direction of the majority of the people because of the Electoral College, gerrymandering, voter suppression, etc, something's got to, and is going to, give.
1
@Cowboy Marine
Reality check: The right-wing has all the guns.
1
In policy and tactics, this is the Scott Walker 2.0 presidency.
This means a lot of bold promises won't be kept, and the stuff they swore they'd never touch needs to be guarded like a hawk before it suddenly gets taken away.
And with full control of most of the government, these cover-of-night cowards will claim to brave despite having zero obstacles in their path.
2
Health Care for the wealthy only.
Vote the republicans out in 2020.
5
Perfect! Keep it up Donald. We all know you won't be removed through impeachment, but this kind of thing really helps our cause in November. Please do some more destruction to your base. At some point, they will wake up. Every little bit like this helps.
3
Richie Rich, the Bad Boy President, delights in playing the contrarian: he eschews everything kind, thoughtful, truthful, well-researched, logical, factual.
This is the father who, standing next to his son during the solar eclipse, pulls off his sunglasses to offer the boy a life lesson.
Richie appeals to the motorcycle gangs and militias who, like him, walk around acting puffed-up and mean.
Elect him again and watch fascism blossom in America...even as the world needs cooperation and empathy more than ever. Naturally, Richie is doing everything he can to make climate change as bad as possible.
Haven't you seen enough, America?
6
Another day, another lie as the GOP shill (i.e., Trump) breaks yet another promise. How does this man and Ms. Verma live with themselves? A rhetorical question as the young, the old, the impaired all fall prey to this wretched excuse for an administration and the craven GOP senators who continue to close their eyes to his depravity.
1
“Alternative Facts” KellyAnne today claimed that a because of Trump US life span has increased in the past three years. If he succeeds in “reforming” Medicare and Social Security the US life span should be right at 150 years.
Okay, punish the red state voters that gave us Trump. The Federal minimum wage is $7.25 in most of these states. They will get the health care they deserve for being gullible supporters of this corrupt President and the republicans.
3
This is a person who wakes up in the morning and asks, what can I do that’s bad today? Add poison to the groundwater, kill birds, cut medicaid and food assistance, kill a foreign leader, withdraw support of allies who fight beside us, threaten congressmen, make fun of women, make gun of the disabled, lock children in cages , and..........on.
2
He has no shame, no compassion, same for the GOP. This is absolutely cruel and a sad day for what is supposed to be the greatest nation on earth. Make America sick and poorer again. Unconscionable.
1
The GOP war on poor people continues. Deplorable.
2
The continued trope from the Republicans has been that Medicaid serves young poor people who decline to work, or the beneficiaries are single-parent families usually headed by "wealfare moms." Unfortunately, the reality is different. Indeed, 2/3 of the beneficiaries are young, but 2/3 of the money goes for elderly people either on or nearing Medicare eligibility, including nursing home care. Basically, block grants might, as described in the article, result in certain red states increasing Medicaid spending. On the other hand, block grant restrictions may "throw grandma under the train." As a generality, block grants will be less trouble in wealthier states, in terms of funding restrictions and effect on provision of services. In states with lower average income, block grant restrictions can result in major Medicaid funding shortfalls, leading to restriction of services. This is not a theoretical construct: It has happened, and should a recession occur, with a shortfall in tax revenues, a state will further restrict services.
5
This is the problem with government funded healthcare-it sounds good, until the government has to actually pay for it. Quickly they run out of money and stiff the providers (Medicaid payments to doctors are abysmal) and decrease benefits to the population.
Medicare for all will be the same thing. Less for more.
2
Yes, doctor, its interesting how “it” always seems to work against the poor and the afflicted. And how your focus is on low payments to physicians.
1
Told ya - Who Knew he would go after the third rail.
Anything to avoid paying taxes
We are all expendable
Next up- social security and Medicare!
21
I’d rather be a registered member of the Democratic Party, than a Republican Party constituent, whose vote assisted some career politician advance their career, at the expense of their own constituents lives.
Though I doubt that I’d ever wear a t-shirt proclaiming as much.
6
I wear one every day. Feels great to let others know I’m on the right side of history
1
Won’t this be just great for the poor of northern Maine - the day ones who have no transportation and where public transportation is virtually nonexistent, oh and living in an area with hardly any jobs or training programs? Of course a lot of these same people are Trump supporters, but I don’t wish this on any of them. It is just, plain inhuman.
16
Let the Republicans inquire all they want into Biden, his son, etc. and equally let us inquire into Bolton's testimony and anyone else who might be relevant.
3
It is clear- Trump is appealing to the high turn out voters, adamantly against:
- abortion
- taxes
- ethical governance that prioritizes safety over profits (EPA)
- universal healthcare
- immigrants
- Russian sanctions to deter reckless expansion & Arctic plundering
The Democrats have a disparate base, prone to purist snark, naive idealism, fragmented turn out and more protest than promotion of better leadership. The perfect remains the enemy of the better.
Now Medicaid faces cuts, next Medicare & Social Security, as Trump's zealots seek privatization & profiteering of everything. The public good is the enemy of markets. The Gilded Age redux.
10
This is exactly what the GOP promised. If you believed Trump's lies. that he cares about the trials and tribulation of working White Americans, you deserve having your medicare cut. Meanwhile the corporations and billionaires will pocket their generous tax cuts. God know they can;t be bothered investing in this country.
12
@GUANNA Nobody deserves to have their health care cut. It’s tragic that the misperceptions of some has resulted in them voting against their own self interest.
1
Finally, in an act of heroic compassion, Trump comes to the rescue of one woebegone Baser.
It no longer makes no sense to hiss "Get government off my Medicare". That bigoted hunk of woman turns out to be a visionary.
1
Well this was entirely predictable, lower taxes on the rich and wealthy corporations, watch the deficit soar, then claim entitlements are bankrupting the country.
I fell for it as a teenager and young adult in the late eighties/early nineties, especially after reading Ayn Rand. Stopped buying into this garbage after getting a tiny bit more sophisticated by the mid-nineties (and reading a lot more and a few economic classes).
Why do so many people still fall for this tripe?
15
We need someone who supports the opposite of every Trump policy.
Bernie Sanders comes to mind right away.
7
Is there something that makes me nervous.
Anything touched by Trump goes bad.
And a lot of people cheer.
So, where is the catch?
2
To effectively communicate to the American people what this means, we need numerous, straightforward brief videos posted on YouTube. Lots and lots of them that explain the impact.
4
Of course Trump is lying about taking care of you, while he is shredding the social safety net. Money for Trump golf carts, but not for our medicine.
Like WH lawyers wrapping themselves in the virtues of due process - first hand evidence, cross examination of witnesses - while violating them in this trial.
Like Republicans wrapping themselves in the flag while shredding the constitution.
8
This article headline should be, “Trump cheers people losing health care and eventually dying, his friends make more money and are happy.“
Seriously, try telling your seven year old that the President took away healthcare for people who will now get more sick. See if he or she thinks the President and his friends are part of the Legion of Doom; they likely will.
6
SOMEone has to pay for those tax cuts for his billionaire buddies - might as well be the poor, elderly and sick.
I'm sure when Trump's base realize they disproportionately receive these benefits it'll be Hilary's fault.
You can't make this stuff up.
13
How dare they smile and clap in the photo after making a plan to cut health care for poor people. Shame on them. How do they sleep at night? Where is their basic humanity?
11
It is very hard to look after the wealthy 1% when those not in the 1% keep expecting support for healthcare, education, safety, etc... must be such a drag for Trump and his ilk!
3
I’d be willing to bet that this is how Trump bought off Toomey not to vote for witnesses.
3
All of these attacks on the poor are designed to Move Poor Voters Out of Red States.
4
If the Presidents lawyers think the House Managers did such a bad job in the House why don't they improve what they did and call witnesses and do better for the American people? Do a proper trial with all the witnesses both sides want? Step up to the plate Lawyers.
1
Hello Democratic Party campaign wizards: Trump is tossing softballs to you. Start swinging at them per Mike Bloomberg's ad campaigns. Do not wait for the general election.
9
I can see a whole line of “If Republicans are Pro Life, why do they...?” ads. Stuff like this dovetails right into that. Let them own that label, but make them live up to it.
You can't reason with dogma. It can't be negotiated with. It's incapable of compromise. It must be beaten. So vote!
4
A 21st century version of "Let them eat cake." We must not forget that time wounds all heels!
4
trump continues to roll back reforms and grant the GOP's greatest dreams...but he's doing it all by fiat. I don't recall any hearings or debates in Congress about any of this, especially something as huge as Block Grants. tump's already a dictator. And like the from in slowly boing water it seems we've just all gone along with this coup. And that's the dark humor here. All the while the GOP has been screaming about the Democrats and their 'coup', it's been the GOP and their rabid autocrats, billionaires, and christian fundamentalists who've been plotting this coup since the 1960s and have never slowed down. We're doomed.
4
We have to comment here because there is no where else. Trumps lawyers are arguing for denying witnesses in a trial that has some importance for Americans. Why are they doing that? Why would Alan Dershowitz be for denying witnesses in a trial? He is an esteemed Professor at Harvard. Why would he be against a basic human right? Why?
2
Does the Medicaid Entitlement Authorizing Legislation allow these inhumane people to cap Medicaid??
I don't believe so
3
In other words, if you're poor and you get sick, just go somewhere out of sight and die. The Republicans have to make sure that the richest among us get an even bigger tax break.
4
Put simply, we must put a stop to all the welfare waste. The millionaires and billionaires need to learn to live within their income and stop relying on the American people to support them with our taxes and their cuts!
2
This too goes bye bye in the courts, congress has rejected it many times
1
The poorer you are, the weaker you are, the younger you are, the older you are, the sicker you are, Trump wants to take something away from you. And then give it to the 1%. What's it going take Americans? What will it take before we rise up and throw this cheating, grifting, miserable, lying pretender out of office?
6
Call all witnesses. Everyone. Call them.
6
Question for Trump's cult: Would you be willing to take a 50% cut in your Social Security check, give up Medicare entirely, and swear-off any Medicaid assistance, if you could be sure no brown/black American citizen every got a dime of these social safety net items?
Hint: It's not a trick question.
7
I suppose Republican evangelical Christians will be celebrating this as another instance of God's working through President Trump.
5
Another step forward for the goals of the Jill Stein voters, and stay at home Only Bernie voters, and the voters in Milwaukee and Detroit uninspired by a pink lady.
Their agenda is being implemented even further.
4
it seems at times the this entire admin was dredged from the Swamp.
5
Is this change tantamount to “death panels?”
4
GOP's plan — Social darwinism and eugenics in the service of a return to feudalism.
7
“... Medicaid — which now serves more than 71 million people, or more than 1 in 5 Americans”
The fact that more than 20% of people in the US are considered poor enough to receive this social benefit is damning evidence that the US economy isn’t the economic wonderland the administration claims it to be. There was also an article today about a slight improvement in longevity in the US. This is very good news. However the article also pointed out that improvements in life expectancy in the US lag behind other developed and not so countries. Yet another indication that there is something amiss in the world’s richest country.
Perhaps these less than stellar statistics have something to do with how wealth is distributed and the way medical care is delivered.
7
The attacks begin in earnest!
2
A block grant is a fixed annual sum of money awarded by the federal government. The reason it's bad to apply to Medicaid funding is because states' needs change (ie, outbreaks, pandemics, opioid epidemics). Florida is one of the states that will most definitely take this offer up, thereby further affecting the poor's access to healthcare.
My friends, if you ask yourself how you can lend a hand to the less privileged, you can speak to your friends and government about not further restricting access to healthcare in our state. Start by spreading this article to help others better understand the issue.
8
And here it is. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will never be safe as long as Republicans run this country.
10
Many of the people and/or their families sufficiently impacted by changes proposed to medicare voted for Trump. Perhaps many such voters are under the allusion that it is someone else, or
other people's children or parents who are receiving medicare. First they came for their jobs through the tariff war, then they burden future generations with soul crushing debt through a massive transfer of wealth, disguised as a tax cut. They tried to take health care by an attempt to repeal the ACA and at some point will come after Medicare and Social Security.
7
I am old, disabled and poor, and rely on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Section 8 and a weekly case worker to get through them. Besides having to deal with my pharmacy, Medicare and Part D Provider fir drugs, I have to meet with a Blue Cross Representative and deal with agencies Blue Cross hires, for homemakers, transportation service, Meals on Wheels and $30 a quarter for OTC's. Then there is the application for free Metra service and a free phone and renewals.
I appreciate the benefits, and you should envy me them and want Medicare for All, but being disabled or poor can be a full-time job. I can only hope that when we have Medicare for All it is not farmed out to insurance companies and agencies (that make a tremendous amount of money).
One government for everything and Bernie 2020.
8
“If states spent more than their predetermined budget, they wouldn’t get more federal money. But if they spent less, they could keep part of the unspent federal funds.”
This is exactly the problem with block grants. States have an incentive not to spend it all so they can roll it over into another budget line. That’s what happened with welfare reform and TANF, resulting in major cuts in funding when they put lifetime limits and attached unrealistic work requirements to the program.
8
I'm close to giving up caring about people in places where their own people care about them. All these proposals might pass my no-longer-care attitude, except for one thing: letting states keep part of the unspent federal funds.
I still care enough to be willing help those who need help. But I don't want to reward those states that don't even care about their own people.
4
We may be at the start of a global pandemic. It seems like a bad idea to move away from universal coverage with high federal standards of care.
Do we really want States having control of a large portion of the population who could potentially infect Republican Senators who can block witnesses from testifying at future impeachment trials?
11
Don’t forget all those maga hats were made in China!
1
We can only hope.
What's next? Cutting Medicaid funds for the elderly in nursing homes? Saying, "Okay, granny, it's more important to give tax breaks to the uber-wealthy than it is to give you long-term care?" Is that where we're heading? Medicare cuts are next, as are Social Security cuts. When he was running for president, Trump promised he'd leave those things alone. He lied then; he lies daily. No one can believe a syllable he utters.
I receive Medicare benefits as well as Social Security. I worked all my life for those.
What has happened to the country I love?
28
Block grants: remember Title XX? Depending on the strictness of the guidance, and monitoring, this can be helpful -- or just another way for some states to elude a responsibility to their residents.
Excluding /restricting certain services in order to cover others - or more people - might not be an evil. E.g., in NYS, Medical transportation is a lucrative business, and can be abused. It isn't tightly monitored. Could it be restricted without damaging health care? Possibly yes. Limiting access to drugs is always a chancy issue - who makes the call?
OTOH, in NYS -- a generous Medicaid provider - there's a battle brewing between Gov Cuomo and local counties over who is going to pay a big chunk of Medicaid costs ( where's the coverage?) Cuomo wants counties which administer the program to pay a higher percentage of the costs. Counties, for years, have argued that because NYS, based on federal requirements and reimbursement rules, sets all the regulations, and mandates services, that counties must abide by, the ENTIRE program should BE state run. At county level - keeping up with Medicaid costs means increased property taxes - at state level, increased income taxes.
Flexibility in the ACA allowed states to refuse of Medicaid, assuring that some of the people who most needed health insurance cold not access it.
What kind of civilized country believes that it is acceptable to can discriminate against its own residents depending on their address? This kind.
3
All single-payer healthcare programs in developed countries limit the coverage, either by excluding certain kinds of care (dental and visual, for example) or by excluding certain experimental drugs and/or procedures. In many countries, there is a governmental commission that decides in advance what is, and isn’t, going to be covered. It would be better to limit Medicaid thus way instead of putting a fiscal cap on expenditure per person. But if anybody is telling you that a homeless junkie can get the same kind of care as a millionaire, they are lying. Equally, they are lying if they are telling you that universal healthcare can be achieved by taxing only “the wealthy”. Everybody’s taxes will go up, and the better-off will get supplemental insurance to cover what is not covered by Medicaid for All. And this is the only way to offer a pared-down but adequate healthcare to the poor.
1
@Mor
Yes, exactly like all private insurance policies single payer plans place some limits on coverage, usually far fewer and much better considered.
They will tell you in advance which ones and why, and provide you with alternatives.
Of course, like every private health plan, they limit spending on "experimental" interventions, allowing those that show promise.
Unlike private insurance they will never surprise you with a decision or a life-altering bill: you will know in advance what you're dealing.
Of course everybody's taxes will go up because, in many plans, your medical costs will be reduced to near-zero.
Most single payer plans leave "adequate" in the dust unlike your favorite president's solution, which encourages worthless plans that, in essence, insure nothing of import.
Your ideology, silly as it is, ruins your inadequate argument.
In point of fact, the intervention for a homeless junkie is precisely the same as the one for a millionaire junkie. Its just that, with the help of a Rudy of his own, the millionaire junkie is far more likely to avoid treatment.
4
Our health care system is the most efficient in the world at maximizing its share of the national economy. Its performance is a monument to free enterprise and competition (not competition between health care providers, which is carefully controlled to avoid anything like a price war, but rather competition between the health care sector and other sectors of the economy). This makes it too expensive.
We can keep expenses down by government action to reduce the market power of the players in our health care system. But since this strikes at the heart of free enterprise, we instead keep expenses down by not covering everyone or everything. Our society is based on competition and winning, so the losers who are bad at competing are allowed to sicken and sometimes die. Paradoxically, not providing preventive care for losers sometimes makes their care more expensive. But as far as the health sector of the economy is concerned, this is a feature and not a bug.
If someone's health is maintained by relatively inexpensive preventive care and they live long and die in their own beds, this is money left on the table as far as the health care system is concerned. Making expensive end-of-life care less frequent reduces health care revenue. Doctors generally do not think like this, which is why our health care system is run by businessmen or doctors who have wised up.
3
Once, decades ago, at Grand Rounds in Roosevelt Hospital a psychiatrist, in a kind of sideways manner, let slip a sort of opinion that if cut-backs resulted in tragic death or suicide among participants in the psychiatric day program that might, um, not be an entirely bad thing, economically speaking, but very, very sad. It is what it is...
I suspect he's angling right now for a cabinet position.
6
Now...on to those ghastly pre-existing conditions.
6
“States would also be allowed to impose premiums and out-of-pocket costs on the waiver population, but nobody would be required to pay more than five percent of their household income”
Juxtapose this proposal against that of Sen. Warren asking for 2 cents from every dollar above their first $50 million from the wealthiest Americans, they who benefitted from the tax cuts. 5% of household income for many of the waiver population would be a hardship.
The claim that Medicaid costs need to be reigned in solely on the backs of the poor, while not a mention of runaway healthcare costs due to the unabated greed of insurance providers and big Pharma is reprehensible.
Yet we will hear again that Medicare for All is too radical and we can’t have it. This Medicaid change is radical.
I hope Warren can use her considerable skill to help Americans open their minds and once and for all demand better from this government that we fund. Perhaps Trump’s attempts at wrecking American life will do it, hopefully before there’s nothing left to save.
10
There are plenty of jobs out there. Brine for able bodied poor to contribute to their healthcare; not disabled, children or elderly, but able bodied adults who game the system.
5
"The plan — called “the Healthy Adult Opportunity” — would allow states to cover fewer drugs for enrollees in the block-grant program."
*Healthy Adult Opportunity*? Wow -- the Trump Administration isn't even trying to hide its intentions (translation: UNhealthy adults need not apply). Not since the Obama Administration re-classified banks' "toxic assets" as "legacy assets" (during the recent financial crisis) have I seen such an over-the-top-blatant euphemism.
7
And this will help the nation’s homelessness problem how?
5
Hey Trump: keep your government hands off my Medicaid.
7
Well, something we can do now, because the disability part of Social Security is already on the block:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/16/opinion/trump-disability.html
I've read the proposal this links to, and while I'm all for fighting fraud, this thing reads straight out of an insurance boardroom. Regardless of health or readiness to support oneself, the goal is clearly to kick people off ASAP.
41 senators have found time around the impeachment proceedings to sign an opposition letter. We can submit comments through tomorrow.
1
"The Trump administration said on Thursday that it would allow states to cap Medicaid spending for many poor adults, a major shift long sought by conservatives that gives states the option of reducing health benefits for millions who gained coverage through the program under the Affordable Care Act."
The operative words here is Afffordable Care Act...or "Obamacare". This is just another swipe by a selfish,petulant, jealous child at President Obama whom he knows he can never measure up to.
5
Here it comes...another fifteen minutes of famous dithering for Susan of Maine and Handsome Rob, the Ohio humanitarian.
7
“ ... Medicaid — which now serves more than 71 million people, or more than 1 in 5 Americans”
4
Please remember to vote and that your friend's gun , bonuses and tax cuts are not going to help you when you get a surprise medical bill.
11
You know the Presidents lawyers and yes including Mr. Deshowitz are using their speaking talents however slight they are to present an argument that is insupportable in common sense and a decent level of justice. Listen to everyone that might be necessary to reach a judgment that is fair. The President's lawyers are using their voice to restrict voices, to restrict witnesses, why? Why restrict witnesses? Because they are against the truth? They are not interested in the Truth.
2
Anyone who thinks Medicare/Medicaid is the problem: it’s not.
It’s actually a pretty efficient system for distributing healthcare.
It could be better: if it had its own drug manufacturing facility in the US, and regulated US drug prices, health care costs would come down greatly and we’d have significantly higher quality medications for patients. And drug companies would still have plenty of cash for new development if pharmacy benefit managers were eliminated nationally.
Cutting these benefits will result in the collapse of hospital systems as people show up in emergency rooms when preventative care would have kept them healthy. The hospitals have to treat the ill; they will not leave the dying on their doorstep.
Or maybe they’ll just ship the bodies to Doral? Perhaps to Mitch’s house in Tennessee?
This is part two of the Tax Cut plan. They’ll now cut entitlements with the argument the cuts aren’t meeting projections.
And the entitlements are actually nothing against the loss of tax revenue. Cutting them won’t offset a fraction of lost revenue.
So why do it?
Because none of these guys have thought for themselves in a long, long time. They can’t even look themselves in the mirror and admit: their economics just do not work.
10
How about entitlements to the fossil fuel industry, and agriculture. Didn't we just cough up 12 Billion to rescue farming.
44
Rescued farming because of a crisis Trump created: just insult all the customers until they find new places to shop.
2
Please keep in mind these cuts aren't targeted to the inner city poor only, as many may assume. No, they hit his base in all those red states that a reasonable part of the constituents so proudly wear their MAGA hats. Some of these are the same states that think those on Medicaid should work for the entitlements as well. Good luck to you all.
31
In that case. Good. They don’t deserve to get it anyway. They are their own worst enemies.
8
Truly awful. Republicans work from the premise that vulnerable people are essentially in their predicaments because of some interior flaw of character. Democrats work from the premise that vulnerable people are essentially in their predicaments due to systemic oppression. This initiative speaks volumes as to what this administration really believes about the inherent dignity of all Americans.
23
Love your words.
1
This the the other side of the story to the tax cut bill. Give the super-rich their money now and take from the poor to pay it.
22
How very Trumpian--the Wuhan Coronavirus makes landfall on our shores and demonstrates its ability to spread person-to-person, just as the administration proposes sweeping rollbacks in medical coverage that will affect millions of Americans. How did we ever manage before this genius landed in our laps?
15
With Ms. Seema Verma as friends, who needs enemies?
11
Hey Seema, for God’s sake, Medicaid is “unsustainable” because of tax cuts and money being spent elsewhere, not because people choose to be poor AND sick. A safety net requires that you hold it, not let go. Shameful.
29
@Daniel B
Another Nikki Haley, its all about me not about the people I am suppose to be fighting for.
5
and she stands there with a smug smile on her face
5
Between the disingenuous and unfairness of the senate trial because the "jury" is tilted in republican favor, and the cold hardheartedness of the republican party when it comes to compassion; I'm beginning to hate all republicans.
12
Trump caps Medicaid spending for many poor adults???
Is there just no end to this Trump nightmare?
We all know Trump only wants rich people in his America, but taking away medical treatment for these, the most disadvantaged of Americans, is just plain cruel.
And the loyal Evangelicals just nod and kiss his feet while preaching the go$pel of pro$perity.
What's next Trump... make low income mothers deliver their babies on the streets?
13
The Trump administration is the most despicable one in recent history. They have done as much as possible to decimate the improvements made by the ACA for coverage of the poor with Medicaid expansion and now with this abusive executive act. They have absolutely no compassion for the health problems of the poor and in almost all their actions including their alleged tax reform legislation they have taken benefits away from the poor and given them to rich. This action is just another one in a long pattern of increasing the suffering of our most vulnerable citizens. They are shameless!
10
Are you paying attention trump supporters? This is your guy, once again breaking his promises. I am part of the 1%...can withstand this action...can you?
15
@nanu
Well if you listen to them talk Trump supporters they are pretty clueless about anything besides talking in slogans.
Love it when CNN interviews them they cant even put a sentence together, so they don't care as long as they can whine about how great he is and how well they are doing . After listening to them all is right in the white world of poverty. White GOP and red states of poverty draining the blue states with their stupidity about the world.
7
If Democrats were smart they would be running non-stop TV commercials in the battleground states hammering this message home to vulnerable voters. If you don't want your healthcare completely taken away, you better vote for the Democrat. Trump is taking everything you have, and laugh about it the whole time.
Trump only cares about himself, and marginally about his ignoramus offspring. They are all corrupt.
6
@MrDeepState
So are you reading Bloomberg, talk a good game about supporting the candidates and taking on issues. Prove it because you will always be the mayor of Stop & Frisk for many of us.
Help the country as you pretend you want to . Put your money to use to help Americans
Surprise, surprise, surprise.
6
This is another sign of a great republic in decay. Let's look at the bigger picture. The number of poor and working class citizens are growing in our country, largely due to economic policies that favor the wealthy and corporations. (Imagine if the money given to the rich and corporations in the 2017 tax cut had gone to infrastructure spending. How many working-class construction jobs would that have created instead of stock buybacks?)
So now we have created a fiscal pinch: less tax revenues to pay for more people needing Medicaid. We have a choice: shift budget dollars to help the poor get health care, or cut their benefits. The choice we make says a lot about who we are as a country.
And the Trump administration and Republicans have Congress are making that choice very clear.
11
Trump is leading the country into chaos, all for short term gain.
What will ultimately get him, will be his own supporters when they finally turn on him.
It won't be pretty.
7
@Stephen, what makes you believe Trump's supporters will ever turn on him?
10
@Stephen
Just like people in domestic abuse they never leave their partners because they are afraid. Where would they go?, the supporters have told everybody who will listen how much they hate the rest of the country.
Life is to short to be around people who are just haters. They have found a home with a con man they wont turn on him nothing to replace him with till the next bigoted con man comes alone.
We will help elect democrats in every red state to stop this madness
7
@Brian H. When the country starts falling apart.
It's inevitable, since Trump is walking all over the Constitution, and the rule of law.
Trump is capable of starting a civil war, a race war, a holy war, a gender war, or even a nuclear war.
What he'll get in return is a cyber war, over which he'll be 100% powerless.
2
This will affect many of Trump's voters in red states. I'm good with that.
27
Tax cuts for wealthy folks or health care for the poor. Easy choices for most, but in opposite directions depending on your ability to ignore the suffering of others.
Any question where this Administration sits on this should have been answered by now, but just in case.....
9
Yea Trump is changing the subject by persecuting poor people instead of focusing on exposing his extorting a foreign government. The world is watching. Americans are watching. People who can see through the President's lawyers sophistry. They are saddened by the wrong road the Republicans are taking. I am saddened. It is dispiriting to see good people turn against what is right, what is honorable.
7
What is about this country and its dislike of health care for those who are not millionaires?
9
Next it’ll be Medicare.
17
I would bet not a single Times subscriber commenting here is on Medicaid, yet we feel for those who will be affected by this travesty.
Trump supporters, if they bothered to read the comments would think that Trump is "owning the libs" when in actuality most of the damage from this policy will hit his own voters, especially in the southern states.
13
The poor and the marginalized are being targeted again. And many of those people live in very red states. The question is, come November will they vote against their own self-interest or will they vote for a party that actually cares about them?
9
We need to stop targeting our disbelief at Trump. Yes, he is a "very sick man" as he himself likes to say, but contrary to his own misguided belief, he is not a dictator--quite yet. The erosion of the social safety net, is something conservatives have been seeking for a long time. Only now they have their puppet to put such initiatives in action.
8
please call the Senate sergeant of arms. Speak very respectfully and patiently. Request your message goes to the Chief Justice John Roberts during the trial. Demand witnesses to be allowed. We must stop this Administration. We must remove Trump. Or else do United States Constitution will not mean anything. All these programs are going to be whittled away and if he is re-elected and not removed he will be more cruel and empowered and protected by the GOP to continue to do so. 202 224 2341 Hours are same as trial hours- into the night.
3
Cruelty is the point. Way back, 40 years ago, one of the very first things Reagan did was to take everyone off of Social Security disability benefits. People had to mount Herculean legal efforts to become reinstated at their own expense. Thousands of people died in that lengthy process. But it was "sunrise" in America. No one cares about the poor in this country.
How can so many Americans be so ridiculously blind about their futures? Everyone gets sick. Everyone dies, often after a long, painful, financially devastating illness.
9
@Mark
Your right. Cruelty is the point. I got the book “Ordinary Vices” by Judith Shklar because of a recent episode of “The Good Place”. Even though it seems repulsive, she describes how cruelty can be a very effective way to govern. It was written in 1984. It reads like a handbook for the trump administration.
4
Shaft the poor, benefit the rich, true Trumpian action.
7
Trump lies, cheats and bullies his way through his life. He also intends to take as many of us with him as he can. I am a bit surprised that he didn't shut down Medicaid and Social Security but we know that it would have resulted in riots and a lost election. So at present, the question on my mind is just how many of Trump's supporters are going to be effected by this?
3
Trump and his administrator Verma should be ashamed, but this administration has shown it has no shame. Their efforts to return this country to the 19th Century are calculated and inexcusable. Next, Trump will be proposing Work Houses for the poor. Read Charles Dickens to get a glimpse of our future under this administration!
Real people, fellow American citizens, will suffer for his ruthless policies.
6
What if the new coronavirus or some other medical horror reaches epidemic proportions in the U.S. and infects individuals not covered by health insurance who stay away from hospitals but continue to spread the disease??? Trump and his Republican supporters in Congress and in the voting public are bound and determined to make life worse for all Americans, not just the poor, but also for the middle class and even the one-percent who may be injured (i.e. infected) because of ignorant Trump administration policy.
2
Medicare and Social Security is next. Bet on it.
6
@Ziggy Trump's 2020 Budget already has 25 Billion in cuts for Social Security over the next 10 years.
10
Republican Jesus teaches us to comfort the comfortable and afflict the afflicted.
He must be so proud of his greedy, cruel and callous followers.
10
Donald Trump's abject cruelty has been on full display since he was (s)elected back in 2016.
Perhaps the most excruciating of his venal acts occurred back in 1999 when he withheld medical insurance from his grand-nephew - an infant suffering from cerebral palsy. 45* did this to exact 'revenge' for being mistreated by his late brother's son.
There is no depth to which this monster will not sink. Helpless birds, helpless children, helpless animals are all subject to his viciousness....his evil knows no bounds.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/09/donald-trumps-cruel-streak/501554/
NOT my president
6
You voted for him? You voted for this. May the odds be ever in your favor.
2
Th Trump administration is about its task of leaving no human being, animal, plant, body of water or air undamaged in some way.
4
Grifter trump and his family of grifters are slash & burning America.
4
Look at how happy they are in the photo! Nothing gets Republicans as excited as sticking it to poor people.
8
Remember come November. Vote Democrat!
5
This would be hilarious if it weren't literally a matter of life and death for some people--and for others, a matter of mere poverty versus homelessness.
The reason the federal government spends 9.5 percent of its money on healthcare is not because spending for the poor needs to be reigned in; it's because the for-profit healthcare industry is gouging its customers.
This 'debate' about how our tax dollars should be spent presents yet another sham choice between two options as if there were no other alternative. The majority of so-called 'first world' countries have done away with this nonsense, but we will be stuck in this sickening Ground Hog day feedback loop until the millionaires in Congress are tossed out on their behinds--and have to 'shop' for healthcare like the rest of us.
Basta ya!
6
I’ve experienced & observed Medicaid helping the low income & working class. It affords them the opportunity to excel & contribute to our society.
Meanwhile, Trump cuts huge taxes for corporations & the wealthy which bring in hundreds of billions in tax revenue.
His oligarch economy is only benefiting the wealthy & their corporations.
So he’s trying to save the federal spending?
That’s ludicrous & we know his architect Stephen Miller’s right wing agenda.
10
@Marcus
The NYT opinion people want to try and understand why Americans aren't having more babies. This is one of the reasons why, we cant take care of our parents and provide dignity and security for them , work and take care of children. Worry about losing careers because there is no safety net because rich people dont want us to have lives but taking care of their selfish needs
Trump, Putin rich people who are in love with cruelty
1
When Ms. Verma says we have to rein in the costs of Medicaid in order to make it "sustainable", it reminds me of what our military said about the Vietnamese city of Hue during the Tet Offensive: "We had to destroy it in order to save it."
This is really quite simple: Republicans do not believe that Healthcare is a right for all Americans, but only for those that can afford it.
21
Well, isn’t it?
1
The Republicans have had plenty of time in power to do something to improve healthcare, and all they have done is take protections away. By now it seems clear that they don't intend to do anything to improve the situation. That means the only way to improve healthcare in the US is to elect a Democratic majority.
17
The cash to help off-set the deficit busting tax cuts for the wealthy has got to come from somewhere. Right?
Vote blue no matter who.
13
Where’s all those hundreds of billions of dollars Trump promised to bring back to the US?
6
How about allowing the voters in any US State sharing a border with Canada to petition the Canadians for entrance into their single payer system. Then in five years reassess and allow the switchers to vote on keeping Canadian health care or not. Then in the following year hold another election for all the States bordering Canada or any State that borders a US State that adopted and kept Canadian single payer membership. Then after the fifth voting cycle a national referendum could be held. Of course Canadians will have the final say at all times on which US States are acting in good faith and will be allowed to join or continue membership.... Out-sourcing our way to a sane health care system.
6
This is just the beginning of the cuts. Trump's 2020 Budget has 25 Billion in cuts to Social Security in the next 10 years.
If Trump gets a 2nd term, all entitlements will be cut.
21
Healthcare being such a large part of our state and federal budgets, we need to look at how much money we pump in to these programs. Yes we are aging as a nation and healthcare is getting more expensive rapidly, but block grants and pouring more money in like the Democrats want does not necessarily mean healthcare is better or more efficient because of it. Yes people may have better access, which is a positive outcome, but what is the cost to our budgets? Not sure what the answer is here, but I am usually inclined to think the less influence the federal government has the better things run in most things.
2
So back to the Gilded Age- with its child labor, lead in the cans, laborer body parts in the sausage, arsenic in the milk, 6-7 day work weeks/12 hour work days, over-the-counter cocaine tonics, and so on. No regulations!
1
President Johnson declared war on poverty and tried to reduce it with social programs.
Trump has declared war on the poor, with the presumed philosophy that an effective way to eliminate poverty is to eliminate the poor.
Republicans become more like the NSDAP with every passing hour. We are all in great danger
13
@James
LBJ was brilliant, FDR was brilliant, Obama brilliant.
What we have in this administration is a man who is demented a hater of the American way of life, values, character. Like Hitler a nobody who so desperately wants to be in the in crowd yet he cant find a way to be involved in the correct manner.
Vote Blue no matter who . We cant go on with a lunatic who is destroying all of America. Why have children if there is no freedom and a life for them.
1
As the GOP keep hacking away at health care you'll see more and more rural hospitals close & doctors moving to work mainly in large metropolitan areas. Watch out where you have a car accident or a heart attack, you might find yourself dying on the side of the road because there's no medical help for miles.
7
The answer: deny poor people healthcare.
The question: how is Trump going to pay for billionaires' tax cuts?
8
What is frustrating is that much of this is being sold by the well-off as a pro-business agenda. I was speaking to a woman, a veteran of the oil industry, who was insisting that Obama had an anti-busi was because he supported regulations and moderately higher taxes.
We might goose profits short term but nothing is free. We will all pay for these moves.
6
It’s a simple actuarial decision. Someone told Trump or whomever it is that makes revenue decisions (Koch bros, McConnel, Attila the Hun) that a significant number of people on Medicaid don’t vote, and/or wont switch their vote from Republican to Democrat even if they lose coverage because they care more about the god/guns/gays culture wars. That, along with some more souped up voter suppression/gerrymandering to dilute or disable those few folks that might actually vote against him, makes it a fairly safe policy move.
4
Something is necessary to squelch spending on Medicaid. Medicaid is financed on the backs of doctors who get paid so,little that I don’t even send a bill. In my community, fraud is rampant. Last month someone showed up in a chauffeured maybach- a 200,000 automobile yet got free care. Dental, vision, transportation,home health aides for 20 somethings with a broken ankle. It is ridiculous.
And no, single payor is still not the answer because the liberals will want this all for everyone. It is unsustainable.
To start, make Medicaid fraud- on the part of patients and doctors- punishable with long mandatory prison sentences. Same with tax evasion and lying about income to qualify. And have the federal govt set minimum and maximum service benefits offered.
The present system is insanity.
4
@ny surgeon
I was under the impression that a surgeon was a scientist. Your one horse example seems more intent on shaming and your own need for money and less about healthcare for those who need it.
Check the science and statistics doc. Then you won’t be gossiping and watching your wallet so much.
7
@Ny Surgeon tax evasion & lying about income - your statement is ironic because these are two major issues the president of the United States refuses to provide to congress. If there's a cheater at the top, why should everyone else follow the rules?
9
Are you aware that not billing patients for federal services is also considered fraud?
5
Pay Attention trump Base...he is breaking a campaign promise to not touch the programs of Medicare, Medicaid, & Pre-existing conditions coverage. He is coming after your insurances. He is trying to save money so he can go golfing & hob-nobbing at Mar a Lago. As his base you too should be interested in how much of your tax payer money is going to him & his family. If re-elected he will come after your social security checks. Think about it.
7
But I thought he said that people weren't going to loose their healthcare!! He promised!!
10
Billions of tax cuts for the wealthy (who can still write off their swimming pools and private jets), blow up the deficit, but cut health care for the poor?-- What would Jesus do, Evangelicals?
8
More bad news for out-of-work folks.
6
@jr
There is no excuse for being out of work in this economy.
1
The expansion of Medicaid in the states has proven that as a result of the expansion more people are healthier and health care costs are lower. So of course Trump wants to chip away at Medicaid because it's working. What a perverse policy change conducted by a president who is set on making sure that universal health coverage will never happen. Shameful!
8
Let's hear it for the GOP health care plan , I am sure all the good little Trump worshippers will say "good, I am tired of paying for gold plated healthcare for those lazy poor people, maybe now I can get health insurance that doesn't cost much and pays for everything (and yes, folks, that is what "middle America" believes, that people on medicaid are getting gold plated medical care while they are getting bankrupted by health care bills. They relish the thought of the poor not getting treatment, to be honest, they see povert as the wages of being lazy.
I wonder, though, what is going to happen when it is time to pay the piper? Like blue collar workers blaming unions and helping with their downfall, what will happen when they realize the person being cut may be their family or themselves? What about all those people in Kentucky who got health care through expanded medicaid? What about the largest group of beneficiaries, the elderly, what happens when old people start being thrown out of nursing homes and the like.
And yes, next will be medicare and social security, you can bet on it..and you can bet with Social Security that trump and the uber rich will never agree to one thing that can help fix the system, get rid of the limit on SS earnings, so a CEO has to pay ss on all their earnings, including income from stock that makes up most of their holdings.
10
@music observer
Fools who vote in Republican liars and crooks get everything that’s coming to them.
And, his supporters will cheer him for doing so, despite the fact that they will suffer for it.
Now, that is leadership.
But, maybe, that is a good thing. If they don't have health care, they won't be able to vote, as they are too sick to do so.
7
The Party may use unspent Medicaid block grants as necessary to protect vulnerable Party candidates whose successful re-election enhances citizens loyalty to the Party and the President. A Ministry of Vulnerability could coordinate the politics of the program nationwide.
2
Probably not the venue to appeal to elderly conservatives, but this administration is coming for your Social Security benefits as sure as Trump lies when he speaks.
10
How typical of the modern Republican Party before and under Trump. To say, “Government has a solemn responsibility to provide for the most vulnerable among us,” while seeking to shorten the lives of the most vulnerable among us by denying them health care.
7
While the GOP is defending Trump's unconstrained authority, he is using it to carry out their unconscionable agenda.
The Republican party is adept at gamesmanship. Their wedge issue tactics and legalistic sophistry work brilliantly. For them.
But don't tell me it's good government to con the credulous to profit the corrupt.
Scorched earth is not just the GOP agenda on climate change. They want to torch entire social safety net. Sadly many who support Trump to the death, are those being burned by his policies.
5
They aren't cutting Medicare, Medicaid, they're "fixing it" because of the "bad socialist 'Dems'".
They're also going to "finally fix social security" too.
You know, this 40% of the population is not going away, no matter if Trump loses. There's a war going on right now, it's not going to end anytime soon.
5
@Daniel
Have you given any thought to how many of your "warriors" are dependent on Medicaid and Social Security benefits?
2
Hey, Bernie Bros, still think there was no difference between Clinton and Trump?
12
Seems Verma loves seeing herself on TV spending thousands of dollars of PR firms to create her image and charging taxpayer's money for stolen jewelry.
She also wants to cut Medicare as soon as possible. She, like the rest of the Trump administration, has no integrity or morals and certainly lacks compassion or probably doesn't even understand what the word means.
7
@Jacquie
Do nothing Nikki Hadley of Health Care. Wait till she writes her book about how she wanted to so much but believed in the words of Trump.
Another political hack getting over. Wait till she falls and Trump isnt there to pick her up. The GOP party of haters.
2
Why do you think Trump and the Gang of Plutocrats, who call themselves the GOP don't want any witness to their lies, promise-breaking and real agenda, the evisceration of the state of the United States enuring to the benefit of the very very few and the well paid and bribed cowards that call themselves "public servants" but who are actually sheep in wolves clothing and more broadly referred to as the GOP political party?
What is unprecedented in these times and in this impeachment is that the entire GOP congressional membership is corrupt and they've successfully used massive talent to brainwash the public, infiltrate large portions of the evangelical clergy through every nefarious means and been able to frame their evil as being "good" for America.
When America falls from its position of even perceived moral leadership and its long-standing role of "the leader of the free world" look for global chaos, social chaos, and environmental chaos to descend upon our world.
The GOP are cowards with no allegiance to their oath, and especially to the fair and impartial pursuit of Truth, the foundation of any actual justice.
It is sickening to hear how evil Trump's lawyers are and to know that the Supreme Court "Chief" Justice is as hyper-partisan and corrupt in his service to the Gang of Plutocrats as the most corrupt GOP Congress and so-called "President" in the history of this nation.
We have virtually days to save our nation. Call, write, join campaigns, fight the liars!
7
@Tom Paine
We are doing everything we can from Queens and my democratic voters are calling, writing and showing up in DC.
Friday is Jane Fonda's climate action day show up in DC, Democracy needs us.
Just turned on CNN Alan Dershowitz is explaining his actions to Woff yesterday claiming distortions even though he said this on the floor and it is on video. So its another Trump moment
Another clean up to confuse the simple minded GOP supporters so I guess he is on Fox news also.
1
With this latest revelation Republican legislation will attempt to continue their 'death by a thousand cuts' to Medicaid, it's no surprise one of the chief architects is a Trump Swamp Appointment, White House Medicaid Administrator Seema Vermna.
Verma has been personally and endlessly laboring to end open-ended federal funding to Medicaid for years-a simple Google Wiki-search of 'Seema Verma' will show how long she's dedicated her efforts to ending this relief valve for so many, if not most, of our Seniors and our most vulnerable. Without Medicaid the majority of Senior Citizens in our country will lose every bit of the primary source of financial support they rely on to live. It doesn't get any simpler than that.
And if you have any doubts ask yourself, why and what in the world would provoke the likes of the former ultra-conservative Republican Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana to pursue and sign into existence Medicaid support in Louisiana for his constituents? Answer: Everyday Senior Citizens have nothing else but Medicaid to rely on to live.
3
Please do not act as if he has won re-election. Now is the time to prevent that from ever happening.
6
I remember Trump once stating that he was going to provide a better healthcare plan that would be more affordable and cover everyone. I wonder if some of those 17,000 people in Arkansas who continue to support Trump remember that?
8
When a president says he can do anything, even extort, with tax payer funds, the head of another country for the president's benefit; when the president's lawyer says no matter what the president does, if it's supportive of his election, then it's in the best service to our country; when the president's lawyers stand in front of the Chief Justice and lie and lie and lie and nothing is done.....well, we've got more than Medicaid cuts to worry about.
If he and Putin steal the 2020 election, he will do absolutely anything he wants whether it be criminal or not. His cruelty will know no limit.
I fear for my country. And the poor will suffer first.
7
The Republicans want to kill the Affordable Care Act. The Republicans want to kill Medicaid. Their lies and sophistry aside, they want to strip all forms of assistance to middle class and poor Americans. According to various sources, about 65% of Medicaid goes for nursing home care for the disabled and seniors. Where will those folks go, Medicare can not take over without a huge increase in funding. Note to conservatives, hospital emergency rooms ER do not cover long-term medical care. If someone has cancer the ER will not cover the treatment, diabetes ,no, MS, no, no on anything that won't kill you imminently(all mental heath except suicidality). Our healthcare system is shaky enough for those who don't have much money. Please vote for Democrats, stop the Republicans from eviscerating the US safety net.
4
No surprise.
Just part of the normal Republican disrespect for any life beyond the womb.
Whether it’s increased pollution, lax workplace safety standards, or cuts in health insurance, the GOP has once again proven itself the party in favor of disease and early death.
4
Is there no end to the inhumanity and lack of compassion of this administration? And his deplorable supporters won't even recognize that this is a slap in the face to them. It's beyond sad. It's cruel.
3
Why does the Republican Party have to be so cruel?
6
Because the democrats are too unrealistic and want someone else to pay for everything.
2
@Ny Surgeon
That doesn’t even make sense. How did you get through medical school?
6
These cuts are bad enough.
What is really sickening is the photo at the top, with Trump and Ms Verma clapping and big smiles on their faces.
That makes me want to throw up.
6
First, Mr Trump cuts any federal taxes levied on the heath care industry.
Next, he cuts medical benefits to citizens so he can extort desperate people into entering a slave labor pool.
Finally, he now has privatization of Social Security squarely in his sights.
7
Thanks MAGA-hats.
3
We can’t be bothered to care for the sick and ill citizens, but have all the open-ended military spending you want America. Yet another disastrous decision from Trump-a fat cat who wants to save money on the backs of the poor while he enriches his hyper-wealthy friends. He’s a shameless, walking contradiction.
3
Now you know how the tax cut is going to be paid back.
This is no different then sending thousands of people
out into the streets to die. This is our President.
The genius, You know what- impeachment is too good for him.
3
Of course, you realize, all of this is right out of the "ultimate" libertarian, Ayn Rand's playbook who believed, if you could not afford to pay for your own healthcare and you were ill, than you were not worthy.
4
So again, basically the complete opposite of “what Jesus would do”. How those Trump supporters could conceivably consider themselves Christian is incomprehensible.
Three key planks to Trump's 2020 platform.
1) Outlaw abortion.
2) Decimate Medicaid that helps mothers and children.
3) Make the mothers work.
Heck, that's OK since men are never responsible.
2
@jhanzel
4, Continue to talk down to women Sexually assault women and pretend it didnt happen
5. Lie about everything and tell white people that the minorities are going to take away their health care
6. Cover up everything because it is all a kangaroo court
2
Block Grants - every Red State dream. Divert the $$ for tax cuts for the rich, boondoggles for the cronies, any and everything except those it is supposed to go to...
3
In the span of one week, this administration has blessed us with raw sewage and animal fecal matter in our water (rollback of EPA protections under the Clean Water Act); Now, the 14 or so modern Confederate States of America- who refused to expand Medicaid for its citizens (by paying about 10% with the Fed chipping 90%) have called in their chips...and now Medicaid and Medicare funding has been altered in ways that will surely cause negative health outcomes for millions. Next up, the demise of Social Security benefits.
With so much personal winning- I can hardly contain my joy.
4
Just when you think Republicans' disdain for the sick and suffering couldn't get any worse.....bang! There ya go.
7
Nothing says "repeal and replace on Day One" like slow-walking changes and eviscerating the only viable alternative.
4
The states most likely to do this, are trump supporting states. Sounds Good to me.
Maybe the Republicans have a good idea basing block grants apportioned to groups within States that do the most work for society. Compare shingling a roof in 105 degree weather or siding a newly constructed home in -20 degree weather to sitting in a board room discussing stock by-backs to inflate the current value of a corporation’s stock values. The real workers would get the majority of good healthcare in the country for once just to even things out.
2
interesting to see Oklahoma governor rallying this change. Tulsa is providing incentives for 'tech workers, creatives, and digital nomads", many of whom are gig economy workers, precisely those who do not have company-sponsored health plans, and may need a safety net someday. Why would any of those workers, particularly those with young families move there?
2
To me Trump was clear in his Davos interview with Kernan that he "was looking at entitlements." Why wouldn't he want to cut them to cover the deficits he incurred with his huge tax cuts for the rich including himself?
5
The Republican attack on poor people continues unabated. Every nursing home owner reading this article just shuddered from the fear that funding for many of their residents will be capped at 9-10 mos/yr. leaving no income for the rest of that 12 mos. since about 80% of nursing home residents in the US are on Medicaid. And the CFOs of every rural hospital in this country are shuddering as well since most rural areas in this country are full of poor people on Medicaid and other government assistant programs. And the CFOs of urban university - based hospitals are shuddering in fear of their bad debt going even higher than it already is without Medicaid. But the Republicans have to fund their next tax cut for the wealthy somehow...
8
I will not be surprised if the next step by this Administration is to issue an Executive Order declaring that hospitals no longer need to admit uninsured in need of emergency care. Trump will declare that will bring down costs because hospitals will no longer need to charge more to cover non-reimbursed costs of caring for the poor.
If we now permit untreated sewage to flow into rivers and streams, the above action can't be too far off.
11
The whole point of the aca is that everyone could now buy insurance with subsidies. Even pre trump it wasn’t working. If you chose not to take advantage of the marketplace, perhaps you should be sent away. You cannot be a freeloader even if the mandate is gone
1
Medicare and Social Security are next.
Someone has to pay for the lower taxes to the rich, increasing deficit and stagnant economy.
The Dow Jones and S&P rising indexes are a smoke screen hiding very rich people getting more money and the rest of us waiting for the other shoe to drop leading to disappearing savings and increasing poverty.
13
The GOP has been wanting to destroy Social Security since FDR created it and Medicare since LBJ created that. The loss of these two programs will devastate our seniors and the disabled. I, for one, don’t understand why these people want to hurt the aged and disabled. Certainly they have parents and grandparents and eventually will become older themselves. Not everyone Republican is rich and I understand that a lot of them are also disabled and do eventually reach the age of 65 and need healthcare coverage. It can’t be the cost of these programs as the GOP just gave the rich a nice welfare gift in their tax cuts. So I guess we can assume these Republicans are just not thinking straight. Should they be in control of our country?
2
Absolutely right!
1
In Canada, block grants to the provinces work, because they have laws preventing doctors from ignoring the poor patients by not allowing private insurance companies from insuring the public.
In the U.S. block grants won’t work over time, as the doctors will avoid the public patients and give preferential care to the privately insured. The private insurance companies in turn avoid the really sick and poor to cherry pick the healthy (those without pre-existing conditions and those healthy enough to have jobs).
Trump’s Republican proposed system of block grants to the States has been around a long time, advocated by the right-wing former Republican Governor Scott Walker and the Koch Brothers funded ALEC (American Legislative Executive Council).
READ Former Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker’s NYT Opinion piece.
OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
Our Obsolete Approach to Medicaid
By Scott Walker
April 21, 2011
Madison, Wis.
5
Once again, Trump and the GOP show their true colors... after passing tax cuts that solidly benefited the billionaire class and corps, they seek once again to destroy the meager safety net meant to protect the most in need.
How any rational person believes that Trump is for the "forgotten man" is beyond me. Ignore his self-aggrandizing rhetoric, as he has a long history of conning and scamming anyone and everyone. He has already intentionally destroyed many government policies and regulations meant to protect the average citizen from predatory lending, clean water, clear air, etc.
And I haven't even gotten the other institutions that he was charged with protecting, but instead sought to destroy.
13
While the debate of the ACA went on, the extreme right raged on saying that there were/are provisions in the act that allowed for the creation of ''death panels''.
It was proven over and over again that no such provision was in the ACA
With the planned changes to turn Medicare/Medicaid funding into a block(head) grant proposition, the extreme right gop will get their wish with Donnie Drumpf leading the way-- Trumpcare-- will lead the way to death panels becoming a reality
3
Healthcare is probably the top concern of voters from BOTH parties so if Bernie Sanders is the nominee and you STILL don't think he could beat and ultimately eviscerate Trump on this issue alone then you are living on another planet.
1
Everything this administration has done since it's first horrific day has been an act of cruelty, destruction, and gleeful sadism. It's actually quite astonishing that a person like Donald Trump can be so incessantly virulent and pathological.
People- this is what you get when you vote Republican. The ultimate goal of the Republican party is to eliminate every aspect of progress and stability afforded to Americans since FDR. Republicans want to eliminate every aspect of the New Deal, every element of worker and environmental protection, and demolish the gains of the Civil Rights movement. That's not an exaggeration. The goal of the Republican party is to take us economically back to the days of the Robber Barons, to the workplace standards of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, to the time when seniors starved in old age, and to the social standards of Jim Crow. That's what the GOP stands for. Vote every one of them out in November.
31
This is so sad that every word of this comment is true. What has happened to this country under Trump and his enablers will take decades to repair.
4
Talking to friends in Texas (where I live) I feel there is no hope. They just don’t see anything but positive in this president. It’s not like “ we knew what we were voting for with Clinton”, it’s “ we want this type of leader.” And they see impeachment or questioning Trump as getting in the way of the work that any god-anointed (at least if it’s a Republican) president is doing. If you can’t have a trial because the logic is , well, witnesses might bring new charges up and it would mean a longer trial, people should ask themselves, what is my president doing, but no. Abused children, even abused adult children, need to see the parent as good. If they can’t it is unbearable that they would be betrayed by this caregiver so they accept his actions as good even if all logic holds things contrary to this. Abused children with at least one person who cares for them stay healthy and can see through this . Why do I see a comparison?
1
The Republican Party seems intent on granting Trump the powers of a king or tinpot dictator. True to character or lack thereof, he will overplay his hand in his zeal to enrich himself, his donors and cronies. He simply can’t stop himself. The chickens will come home to roost before November as more and more Americans see how he is hurting them. It is up to all of us to canvass for Democratic candidates at all levels, vote, register others to vote, and educate voters as to what Trump is really doing to them.
3
GOP once again balancing the budget on the backs of the infirm rather than the rich.
9
Except they are not balancing the budget.
2
Trump ran on Bernie's platform and won.
Ever since he has done the opposite.
1
Lethal viruses don’t discriminate between the poor and the rich as Republicans do. We all breath the same air.
4
Let trumps America not get the health care they don’t pay for, no issue for me.
The states most likely to cap these benefits are exactly the same states the Trump will win handily because of the rural and lower income caucasian voter. The people most likely to be effected by this cap are the rural and lower income caucasian voter. Then, if by some miracle these people can even think of getting private insurance they will be turned away because of a pre-existing condition, a change in regulations allowed by the very same person - Mr. Trump, while he tells golfing stories to his buddies at MirrorLARGO. And people called Obama an elitist because of he was thoughtful. Good god we are a bunch of sheeps to the slaughter.
6
Watch out Seniors. Next comes Medicare and Social Security. The GOP dis coming to get you.
8
Creating more private pay health care consumers, who will most likely become clients of the booming medical collection industry, and more indigent care emergency room patients is what will result from these changes.
Anyone who knows Medicaid know the coverage is so limited, and participating doctors so few that the actual cost per patient is tiny. My son attempted to join Medicaid, but because of his challenges working, we gave up trying to meet the requirements for documenting work. Many work cash jobs, and this will formalize the barriers to getting in.
My guess is that what won't be cut is the funding for nursing homes, because wealthy working folks can save their inheritance and their out of pocket cost for their aging parents to live in the homes. At $8,000 per month that would cover a lot of poor folks who need dialysis or gunshot wounds.
2
Limited? Medicaid pays for every5ing. Just show up in an ER. And go to work.
People on Medicaid have a very restricted list of what doctors they can see, which clinics they can go to. If their situations get really bad, yes, they’ll just go to an ER. That’s also what uninsured people do- they have no other options.
Republicans only care about the rich and the rest of us can die. That’s your 2020 campaign message.
23
Trump has to be one of the most malicious and hateful people to have ever held American citizenship. He's the nadir of incivilization.
18
Unless you are elderly and the program is paying for a nursing home or a young child, not much is covered anyway. At least here in NJ. I was on Medicaid for a couple years, and not many doctors took it, and hardly any tests were covered. And the Doctors that did take it, the waiting rooms were jam packed all day long. And the right wingers want to cut it even more ... real nice people
Medicare For All that is the answer. Simple, straight forward and in the long run cheaper for everyone.
16
I paid Medicare taxes for decades before I qualified for any benefits. Now I pay about $5,000 a year for Medicare and a supplemental insurance plan. I still have deductibles and copays. There is no subsidies like Obamacare has. That’s Medicare. So you want a family of four to pay $20,000 a year?
4
@William McCain ** most people I know are paying around $125.00 to $150 a month for the supplement. Some aren't paying anything and are fully covered. Are saying the ACA is better? or what. That is just flat out wrong
1
@Doctor Woo : I have both Medicare and Medicaid in Maine and my experience couldn't be more different than yours. I have the best medical care I could ask for, no tests have been denied me. Five years ago I was in the hospital for a month and nearly died and paid not one bill. Not one bill came to me.
Medicaid has been a god-send to me and I am eternally grateful. My income is pretty low and that is not a fun way to live. Medicaid at least gives me a shot at a longer, better life than without it.
3
Trumpian policy always seems to be hit people when they
are down. Cut Medicaid for those in need.
12
Somebody has to pay for Trump's tax cuts granted to billionaires and millionaires. Why not the poor?
13
Don’t forget it’s mostly the middle class footing the bill. I do t know what your taxes were last year. Mine and many of my friends and coworkers went up quite a bit. Republicans have always hated on the poor.
2
So, the 2017 increase in my taxes was not enough to pay for the Trump children’s $22 million of tax free inheritance. Have to go after medical care for the poor. Scam charity; scam university - nothing new. Move on. Nothing to see here.
21
I guess they don’t realize how hard it is for anyone over 50 to get a job.
19
@Lisa Some of them realize it. None of them care.
5
I've been waiting for this shoe to drop. Next, the Greedy Old Pirates will go after Medicare and Social Security. They've been longing to gut our "entitlements" (which we pay for through salary deductions) forever. I hope all the Trump supporters living below the poverty line appreciate how much their dear leader is doing for them, not to mention the rest of us. "I won't touch entitlements," he said. Guess He lied again. Anyone surprised by this, hasn't been paying attention. Thank goodness all of Trump's supporters are billionaires and can afford to pay for their own health care no matter how astronomical it becomes, otherwise I would be really worried right now. But hey, as long as they're still "owning the libs," I guess everything's okay. Right?
13
Good thing the republicans convinced me there’s no class warfare going on here, otherwise I might have mistaken this for it.
18
What a surprise - the administration is now bribing the GOP Senate a day before its critical vote.
9
"...A legal challenge is almost certain..."
"almost" - is a word - improperly and incorrectly used here.
History to date of challenging this POTUS is : A legal challenge IS CERTAIN.
We Americans are well known the world over as a "disruptive" force where we challenge prevailing wisdom.
And more than often, we succeed in betterment of our society.
We are famous about challenging well established precedents, policies and even radically reorganize bureaucracy.
In that same spirit - you would think it would be appropriate to question efficacy of a program that has grown beyond it's original intent.
Medicare was called the "third rail" of politics.
But now Medicaid has replaced it and has expanded to the size of almost 10% of our budget.
You would think - a rethink at some juncture would be appropriate.
But we know that this proposal will be stopped in its tracks by a "cosmic" ban as Justice Gorsuch recently said
We Americans have now become hostage or prisoners of the past when it comes to any of government welfare programs.
@Neil And we should certainly look at tax cuts for the rich and corporate welfare programs. Or are we not hostage to those as well?
12
Supplying healthcare to people should be a government function just like pure water (except if you’re in Flint MI), police and fire protection and defense. By the way what part of our federal budget is now spent on Defense and on tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy?
12
Cruelty will increase until morale improves.
The current administration recommends moving to gated communities. Also, buy guns.
12
Systematic indifference and cruelty toward the impoverished and vulnerable is now the coin of the realm. Make America Great Again indeed.
13
These are sick and scary times. Gradually over the past 40 or so years the republicans and their billionaire backers have been taking incremental steps leading to this outcome — a Trump/ McCornell government funded by international business (ie, billionaire) and government (ie, Russia, Saudi, Israeli) interests.
We are in trouble. Our courts, election system, politicians, news media, corporations are all now working as one big billionaire autocratic sociopathic playground (or battleground more accurately). And We The People of this Republic and democracies around the world are the casualties.
9
"Health Adult Opportunity."
How Double Plus Good can you get!
Welcome to Kickstarter, MAGAheads.
5
Many people see healthcare as a fundamental human right. With this president that right is under constant siege. We are better than this.
6
Trump betrays his supporters once again. First, he has made it much more difficult to qualify for and retain SS Disability. In Davos, Trump announced he is willing to make cuts to Social Security and Medicare for the elderly. Now, the states that refused to expand Medicaid for poor adults will be allowed to let them die in the streets. These are American citizens! Do Trump supporters realize that illegal aliens in California can now obtain free Medicaid services including free dental and prescription drugs? Will someone please tell MAGA supporters that they have been conned by this snake!
8
Mr. trump is a great destroyer of all safety nets and it seems he enjoys it a a lot
8
Trump continues to bully the poor. Democrats please VOTE in November. Make sure you are registered to vote.
10
For decades politicians have made promises of future payments, confident in the knowledge they were making commitments someone else would have to fulfill. They didn’t care so long as it helped with their next reelection. Those promises were so easy to make but they’re turning out hard to achieve.
Everyone knows those promises can’t be fulfilled. Standby for years of tax increases coupled with cutbacks of Social Security, Medicaid, pensions for public servants, and on and on.
4
Trump Takes Away Healthcare from Real Americans.
Headline writes itself.
10
So far the country has supported this sort of thing. Republicans keep getting elected by cutting services for others and reducing their own taxes. It's been a popular and successful strategy.
8
That’s only true to a point — so many have only known a decent baselines of services.
When schools can only open 4 days a week, teachers don’t get paid a living wage, roads are crumbling, and more and more Americans fall out of any safety net, See Kansas.
5
@Idle Rich
I have to admit you are right, ultimately, it is the electorate who elects the politicians that carries out these draconian measures. It always comes back to the uniqueness of a considerable number of American voters who "strangely" continually vote "against their self-interest".
7
@Deus
Then they complain about how miserable their situation is and do their best to blame it others.
Social security and Medicare are next. So you have a binary choice in November resentment or progress.
17
The Republican faction hates it when financially challenged people have access to affordable taxpayer-supported medical care because Medicare and MedicAid control program costs by not paying the full price that pharmaceutical firms, doctors and hospitals want to charge. Republicans receive very generous donations from pharmaceutical and medical firms.
One solution is for financially challenged people to match or exceed the millions in donations that the medical industry pays to Republicans in exchange for Republican support.
Okay, well, another solution is to elect more Democrats, who don’t seem to mind if people have access to affordable taxpayer-supported medical care.
8
Any public health department (I worked in one) has volumes of research and reports showing thus: the greater the access to health care for all, especially primary care, the healthier the population and the lower the overall costs to society. Without question, it's just smart business to cover the poor, moral questions notwithstanding.
But of course, this is the backwards president.
Up is down, cabinet members destroy the agencies they lead, truth is not truth, stable genius is actually an illiterate sociopath.
Sad.
43
Kinda like what MLK said: Socialism for the wealthy, and rugged bootstrap individualism for the poor.
29
The woman who wants to limit federal contributions to Medicaid, Seema Verma, filed a claim in 2018 for $50,000 for lost luggage, which she wanted taxpayers to cover. Documents obtained by Politico from the government showed that for a three-day work trip she took jewelry worth tens of thousands and $325 worth of moisturizer by her own accounting. She said she needed all the jewelry with her because she was visiting her family in Indiana. It was apparently stolen out of a rented SUV in San Francisco and wasn’t insured.
43
I really don’t see what the problem is. He is punishing his own voters and the people in the states that have long supported the idea of less government, all the while actually using way more government services than people in the wealth-producing blue states. So let’s put it to these people: do you want to support Republicans in cutting off your benefits? Fine, keep voting for them. Or are you a Democrat in these states who needs these programs yet doesn’t bother voting? Well maybe you should.
This is what elections are about, folks.
10
Yes, finally, a policy that condemns Americans to misery and death by treatable diseases.
This is the fine print of "MAGA".
Relax, none of the trump family will be affected.
17
We wouldn't want the Top 1% to run out of money. This will surely save them the 'risk' of a tax increase to cover the insurance of others
14
Ah, "the Healthy Adult Opportunity".
Their original names for it—"the Forfeited Opportunity To Get Poor Adults Healthy", "the Unhealthy Adult Opportunity", and "seriously, vote for Bernie before this madman takes your health covfefe"—didn't focus-test well with people who aren't cruel, greedy, or sating a midlife crisis with a Fox "News" girl.
7
Pay attention Trump supporters! Your man is coming after your medical care.
18
Years ago, my Uncle Stuart, a Kansas Republican, told me that he used to think that Social Security was just the government picking your pocket. "But now that I'm getting a check (and he laughed his deep guttural laugh), I don't quite feel the same way."
In other words, there was no perception of how Social Security helps to unite the country, just the thought that it was ok now that he was getting a check (even though he didn't need it).
Make no mistake, there are lots of Republicans out there who hate our "entitlement" programs. They're the same crowd that raised my taxes in 2017, and called it a tax CUT.
. .
17
This is another attack on public safety from the deregulating monster known as the GOP. Money well spent for healthcare is in the eyes of the Conservatives is less money for tax cuts and business interests.
7
Note the drug limitations, by the way.
Some of that is not so bad—generics are almost always just fine—but count on them making a lot of the higher-end biopharma almost impossible to get.
You can probably count on them chopping Hep C drugs, and don’t be shocked if they sneak in limits on Gardasil and birth control meds as well.
8
They want us to be fruitful and multiply our savings by zero.
2
Trump is writing the Democrats' attack ads.
Thanks, Repubs, for that. Saves us a lot of money that we can put into get-out-the-vote campaigns.
6
Someone has to pay for the 2017 tax scam that exploded the deficit.
8
Trump has already explored the idea of turning Medicare into a state block grant, a longtime dream of Paul Ryan, who wanted to pursue this “reform” to reduce the deficit immediately after passing the 2017 tax bill.
Trump said that he would sign the bill if Congress passed it. Then Democrats won the House.
At Davis Trump told reporters that he would move to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security spending if re-elected. He said he thought that was the path to reducing deficits.
Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are on the ballot in November.
13
When running for the presidency, Trump said he would never touch entitlements.
He is now supporting cuts to Medicaid.
Medicare is next
Then Social Security
Pay attention Americans.
1125
@B
They won’t.
53
@B
Americans can only pay attention if they are informed. It's up to Democrats to educate and enlighten voters. So, I'd revise your last sentence to "Pay Attention Democrats."
56
@B But her emails!
95
We need to expand Medicaid insurance so that millions of families have access to the health care they need to survive and thrive. In an age when we are supposed to be a society that cares enough to see that all of us receive the health care that we need, we still have those among us who insist that people with no assets — often homeless and frequently missing meals — are supposed to exercise “personal responsibility” by paying funds that they don’t have as a condition for receiving essential medical care. It is completely irrational and inhumane to have consumer-directed, moral hazard-based policies that erect financial barriers to care for the four-fifths of the U.S. population with minimal or modest resources.
Denying poor people basic mental health, medical and dental care simply because they cannot pay the premium defies logic. Does sentencing poor people to receiving little or no mental health/physical health care truly motivate them to find money that they don’t have in order to provide them with the “dignity to pay for their own health insurance,” as V. P. Pence recently said?
Longer term, the best way to help millions of families have insurance for the health care they need to survive is by implementing a humane system for universal coverage in the public interest with single-payer, national health insurance, a “Medicare for All” plan based on medical need, not the ability to pay.
6
Classic Republican strategy: Reduce the deficit on the backs of the least powerful: the sick, the poor, the disabled.
11
reduce deficits? perhaps you didn't realize deficits are at the highest in history, all during what is claimed as a booking economy when we should be running a surplus. As much as I hate how Clinton threw working poor under the bus at least he can claim to have balanced the budget
Yes, another policy that reflects the teachings of Jesus, embraced by Trump and his evangelical supporters.
17
Seniors are on Medicaid and they vote, in this election cycle why bother, you want change America , everyone stay home this election .
2
@Independent voter Seniors are on MEDICARE, not MEDICAID.
1
Block grants are preferred by conservatives because it eliminates equitable distribution of assistance in favor of selective distribution of assistance. For the Mormon Church which generously offers assistance to community members who have suffered severe losses but whose bishops can cut off those who abuse that generosity, block grants do not interfere. For racist holder overs from the segregation era it’s a way to deny assistance to inferior races. For old fashioned reactionary Social Darwinists it’s a way to drive the unfit out of their communities by denying them assistance.
5
What would Jesus do? Give tax breaks to the rich and shrink safety nets for the poor? How can Republicans call themselves Christian who violates basic Christian tenets?
20
Innocent people dying for lack of medical care has never bothered the GOP.
Remember this when it tries to destroy Medicare.
17
Every now and again, it’s important to remember that almost everyone who works for this administration* is an utter ghoul. For example, here’s Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, upright and awake for a change, talking about the economic upside of the unfortunate possibility of a worldwide pandemic.
"I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America.”
“Ah,” says Maria Bartiromo in reply, “that’s a good point.”
No, in fact, it’s not. It’s an astonishingly wrong-headed take that is barely human. I’ve long believed that the basic business philosophy of the American corporate class is fraud. (And Ross has his own problems there, too.) Now, I’m coming to believe that sociopathy is part of the business plan, too.
15
People will literally die, but look at these ghouls grinning away. Why anyone who isn't really wealthy votes for Republicans is a mystery to me? They clearly don't care about the welfare of millions of people.
15
Well, he's found a way to trim .001% off of the trillion $ deficit his tax cut has caused.
8
@jhanzel : And soon he'll cut NPR because snowflake Pompeo had a meltdown with a professional, honest reporter. That will trim another .001% or less off the deficit. That'll show those Dems!
1
It is so obvious that Trump and his cabal are intent on systematically transferring wealth from average Americans AND future Americans to make the ultra-wealthy of today even wealthier. This is both immoral and societally unstainable.
15
So Trump can have people’s life terminated prematurely by his Medicaid policy. Yet he is antiabortion (pro life).
The American people support him thru their elected Congressional choices.
This country, the US, no longer deserves to exist. It is the epitome of evil.
Emigrate while you can. Our days are numbered.
13
@Klaus Perry I've lived overseas in the past, but that window is now closed at my age, as it is for many. Hopefully, I'll get by, but I'm also a former US Marine, and an armed liberal (for purely defensive purposes), so there's that.
Best solution, of course, is that voters wake up and come to understand the destruction that Trump and Republicans are doing to our country, but I'm not holding my breath on that.
But the farmers and ranchers that get welfare because they don't properly manage their land, will get billions and call it "incentives", because welfare is for poor people, trying to buy groceries and their meds.
13
The Republicans only represent billionaires. They try to pretend they care about Christians and rural constituencies, but then they promote wicked morally corrupt leaders that enact policies which hurts everyone but billionaires.
10
Pretty much everything the Bible says absolutely do not do but hey, Christians are getting their tax breaks so what does Jesus know anyway!
10
Changes like this will disproportionately hit poor white people in states like West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas, all bastions of pro-Tump sentiment. Maybe someday these people will cast votes consistent with their economic interests. Until then, it looks like they will be out of luck.
10
How can the republican party be so cruel to the least fortunate citizens of America?
What would Jesus do?
9
Seema Verma’s “Arbeit macht Frei” healthcare financing proposals and policies in Indiana fit in perfectly with Trump and the Republicans plans to defund Medicaid through shifting the responsibility to the States who will defund care for the poor. Thus doctors will not see the poor as often compared to the rich and powerful because they don’t want to lose money. The poor will suffer.
Come on Trump and Republicans - you didn’t invent healthcare.
8
Republican policy: Tax cut for the rich and limit medicare for the poor. VOTE ALL THE NAME WITH(D) TO FOLLOW IN NOVEMBER 2020 FROM LOCAL TO FEDERAL.
7
@Lle Limit Medicaid is for the poor. Medicare is for the elderly.
Of course, Medicaid pays for many (most?) stays in nursing homes among the elderly. So it's an attack not only on young+poor but on old+poor.
1
This administration seems to want poor people sick and starving.
13
Yes, our “right to life” party in action. You MUST be born. And should you have the misfortune of being born into poverty or fall on hard times (health crisis for instance...) - You’re on your own. Beg for scraps. It’s infuriating, the hypocrisy.
20
Trump voters have to come terms with what they created. This football, machoesque “us against them” mentality will eventually catch up with them. However, it could be awhile and people will have to suffer. But until the Rustbelt, conservative voters realize that Moscow Mitch, Cornyn, Lindsey Graham etc. only care about getting re-elected things will continue to get worse. The democrats are trying mightily in D.C. to help the less fortunate but if the voters don’t do their part in the places where the electoral college numbers matter, nothing will change. Unfortunately, things will have to get much worse before things change. It really is up to those Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas voters.
10
@Weiler And the republican aka trump machine with unlimited campaign funds is going full-bore in those "key Electoral College states" to sell trump and republican candidates and divide or suppress Democrats.
5
Must be another tax cut coming
11
Imagine what this group of extremists will do to our nation's safety net programs when the current occupant of the Oval Office is given another 4-year lease on that office. We will become a country led by oligarchs whose aim will be, as it is now, self-enrichment. They care nothing about anybody else...well, except the evangelical extreme right who put them in power.
14
How can we have tax cuts if we continue to help the poor and needy?
16
For the love of....I live in a Medicaid unexpanded state. Rural hospitals already go out of business because they can't balance the books of the reimbursements with the huge amount of uninsured and underinsured patients. Meanwhile you can't get treated for your substance use disorder without some type of insurance (there are technically options on paper but none in the actual world where people live). So I am just SO GLAD to hear that I will now be able to tell EVEN MORE people their country would prefer to watch them slowly wither away and die rather than pay more in taxes. Thanks guys.
49
This is of course standard Republican efforts. It surprises me that they want to give Democrats such a hot issue after what happened in 2018 in the mid term elections. Tax breaks are too hard for people to figure out, but cutting healthcare is an issue many can get motivated by.
21
@WHM...
This spiritually stingy rhetorical manipulation is going to be too confusing for many underinsured Americans... which is going to make something like Medicare For All Who Want It sound so much simpler... understandable... and appealing.
8
Not getting care is more likely a function of lack of accessibility...and to a lesser extent availability. Just because one has coverage doesn’t mean one is able to get seen for treatment.
This is a social justice problem not an individual problem
10
The issue with Medicaid Block grants is that it gives the State's a fixed $ amount within which the State must allocate a certain fixed set of funds. Thus, the State must choose between the allocation of funds to, for example, a disabled, schizophrenic individual in a halfway house and mom living in the nursing home on Medicaid. A substantial portion of Medicaid benefits are to nursing homes. Likely what will happen will be that the Medicaid reimbursement rates payable on behalf of nursing home residents will decrease. Even with the Medicaid reimbursement rates what they are now, staff training, turnover, and supervision are chronic issues. If you think nursing home care is bad now, wait until the reimbursement rates get lower.
19
Well, now that we know that Trump can do no wrong toward getting re-elected - we heard this from his own attorney yesterday during the impeachment Q&A session, so it must be fact - it's equally obvious that he can do no wrong in his social policies, either.
Remember, you are dealing with an administration that forcibly removed children from their parents at the border, and to this day has not been able to explain exactly what happened to all of those children, or where many of them ended up. This story is out of the news cycle for all but the children and parents who were separated. Imagine how you would feel if this happened to you? However, saying that to anyone who supports Trump does no good, because they would simply give you a bland look and reply, "Well, it would never happen to me, because I obey the laws of this country."
18
Your employer based insurance premiums and Medicare premiums just went up. This proposal to block grant Medicaid includes the elimination of retroactive eligibility and presumptive eligibility which will result in an increase in uncompensated care. Those insured with employer based policies and Medicare will have to make up the difference. Your premiums will go up.
15
As long as premiums only go up in those states that are taking block grants. If that is the case, let them go for it.
Insurance watchdogs in the liberal states should be watching carefully.
3
How about a cap on War Department spending, now over $700 billion? Bernie will cut that into a tenth of the bloated irrelevance it is now.
21
@Robert M. Koretsky : $700 billion for war spending, er, defense spending but on top of that is the Black Budget which is billions more. We don't hear about the Black Budget much, do we?
1
I don’t know why any state would agree to this. At best, the burden of illness and care would be shifted from the federal government to the state and the state’s hospitals and citizens.
9
Once again the Trump team is taking away from the poor to give to the rich.
It shows the lack of compassion for the most marginalized in our society.
When Trump is re-elected he will surely be much more aggressive in taking from the poor and giving to the rich.
Just another example of the damage he poses to our society.
519
@James Joseph
I agree with your comment. It also needs to be pointed out, though, that too many Americans keep voting for this. And so we have it.
Although I do wonder what Trump's supporters are going to do when they find out that Medicaid is no longer covering their elderly parents' nursing home room and board.
64
@Josa Unfortunately, they will continue to support him because they will believe whatever lie he tells them. He will somehow blame the Democrats.
23
@James Joseph What Republicans are doing in the Senate today is quantum leaps worse: They are taking away the rule of law.
Like Peter Pan and his shadow, you may not miss it 'til it's gone.
27
The playbook of the Republican Party since Reagan:
1) Pass an income tax restructuring by selling it as a plan to increase revenue while glossing over the fact corporations and the super-rich accrue the most benefits;
2) Boost spending in areas near and dear to their hearts, but especially the military;
3) Feign horror at the exploding budget deficit while ignoring the real reasons (see #1);
4) Use the exploding deficit as rational to reduce spending on programs such as Medicaid, etc.; and
5) Then engage in double-speak that cutting benefits is an opportunity designed to promote the program's objectives.
It's time to realize the hypocrisy of these people knows no boundaries. Get it together Democrats and focus on the job at hand - winning the upcoming election.
51
Democrats may have to just go along with the Republicans. Let them cut the federal taxes in half or 3/4ths and return money to the states. Let the feds just do military, law enforcement and a few other things that republicans allegedly care about.
The liberal states can then provide the proper health care, education and social services to grow while other states can give it to their upper middle and wealthy classes and continue chugging along.
3
@Susan Well-stated and exactly what is happening and has been happening.
1
And this is a help to Americans....how?
21
Tax cuts for the rich.
Early funerals for the unrich.
Nice GOPeople.
November 3 2020
43
Predicting the future health concerns of a particular state is impossible. This plan is stupid.
16
Shame On Them
10
The supposed "cost savings," "efficiency," or whatever you want to call it is little more than a cost shifting - from the federal government to state and local governments, and eventually to - you guessed it - consumers, many of whom will be unable to take on this additional financial burden.
The proposed plan promises to index cost support increases, but as the actual cost of health care is rising faster than the proposed support increase, the gap in funding will have to be borne by state and local governments, and consumers. As state and local governments lack struggle to cover any funding gaps, the burden will increasingly shift to consumers, either in the form of cost increases or service cuts.
The long term consequences of this shift will also likely include an increase in the number of uninsured and under insured. This will also increase the number of personal bankruptcies due to unpaid medial expenses and result in an increasing care burden for hospitals who must provide emergency care, regardless of ability to pay.
This plan also makes no sense from an economic standpoint as it does little more than shift the burden for payment of health care expenses, not their cost. Worse, it may actually be an economic drag due to increased emergency costs, unpaid medical expenses, bankruptcies and lost productivity.
The GOP also know this will never pass a Dem controlled House, making this little more than a faux attempt to bolster GOP fiscal credentials.
9
Trump continues to wage war on Americans - except the wealthy 1% of his supporters. And given the amount that trump golfs and texts without doing any work himself, why must taxpayer dollars continue to support him?
30
The Democrats should slam dunk on this issue. Unfortunately, it will be a hard sell to get the type of accessibility to health care people have in other countries.
We have War profits to tend to instead.
8
People keep asking why Christians vote for this man.
“Evangelical” Christians (yes, there are other kinds) love the current WH occupant because they are more interested in being in the in-club (“We get into heaven and you don’t!”) then they are interested in anything Jesus ever said. And they follow flashy mega-church con men walking around in $3000 suits and flying in private jets, so he’s a familiar character.
Can you imagine: healing the sick, feeding the poor, loving thy neighbor?
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” -Matthew 25:45
43
Class warfare. Here is the real quid-pro-quo.
"Let me off the hook Mitch & I'll help you gut healthcare and social security."
Nauseating.
73
So the Red Party will finally get their death panels.
We are becoming a right wing dictatorship.
36
Here is proof anew that conservatives (the Republican clubbers) simply do not care about real people.
10
Look at these wretched people beaming as they rescind the health care of millions. Sickening.
50
The war on poor people continues....sigh....
18
@Andrew
Medicaid: a SOFT TARGET, fresh red meat for the deplorable horde, a sacrificial anode to pacify his believers into co-opting their values for a tall, rich and vicious head of state who illegally ascended to the presidency. Moral and ethical bankruptcy...third world style.
2
Well we know what needs to be done, vote every last GOP red state politician out of office. Trump is a killer of American democracy. he wants to do nothing good but roll back the country to the 1800's where slavery is legal, people die on the streets, and no health care for anyone
So if the GOP refuse to wake up then VOTE them out especially those sleek mafia lawyers. who want us to be apart of Russia.
12
"States will be able to cap a portion of spending for the safety-net program, a change likely to diminish the number of people covered by the health program."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why is it that "conservatives" care little about their fellow citizens? Do they need other people to suffer so that they can feel better about themselves?
So much for their "christian values" and "compassionate conservatism"...
MAGA, right?
35
This proposals gives the States the option to opt out of receiving money from the federal government, similar to the ACA Medicaid expansion. Logic would dictate that you wouldn’t take that option then again Republicans have never been logical in their opposition to healthcare.
6
Trump, the anti-Robin Hood, steals from the poor and gives to the rich. Medicaid Block Grants are needed to help pay for his tax cuts that furthered the fortunes of the wealthy.
19
It seems that Donald Trump and the Republican ‘leadership’ spend their days trying to figure out what they can do to make life more miserable for as many Americans as possible - other than wealthy party donors, of course.
Then Republicans do whatever is required to implement their plans. If it cannot be accomplished through fair elections and majority vote, why then, disenfranchise voters who would stand in their way and manipulate the system in any way possible, legal or not.
If it cannot be accomplished through the legislative process, then circumvent the legislative process and rely on an expansive view of ‘executive powers’ and enable a demagogue who will govern by fiat - otherwise known as a ‘dictator.’
If the courts attempt to bolster the democratic process by subjecting the dictator’s actions to legal scrutiny, pack the courts with party hacks and extremists.
A concerted campaign of disinformation and party control of the press always helps; and oligarchs like Rupert Murdoch are always glad to help. Fox News, the Sinclair Group, RT... we’re well on our way to state-controlled media.
But after all, ‘the press is the enemy of the people.’ It says so right there in the Constitution, doesn’t it? Every true patriot knows that! We just need to ‘open up the libel laws’ and enforce non-disclosure agreements and gag orders on those ‘deep state’ operatives in the government who might blow the whistle.
Is this a great country or what?
15
Maybe this will wake up people in time for the November election, since the idea that Trump can do anything he wants to stay in office may not be terrifying enough. Medicaid first, then Medicare and SS> who thinks this isn’t the plan??
19
@E Campbell - Last night I caught the last portion of a House Budget Committee meeting. Every Republican was arguing that we can no longer afford Medicare and SS, and those MUST be "reformed" (cut). I don't know why the media doesn't at least make a few mentions of what Republicans are calling for in their various committees, because everything they call for is intended to harm the most Americans possible.
17
I'm sensing a trend here. Trump and his compliant Republican acolytes are doing everything possible to deprive Americans of access to affordable healthcare.
Trump's so-called "Justice" Dept. is attempting to invalidate the entire ACA, which would remove protection for pre-existing conditions and throw millions of people off the healthcare rolls.
Do Republicans truly believe their all-out war on American healthcare will be a winner for them in November? Apparently.
25
The total dismantling of Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security is coming unless we get these Grifters out. Happy now, Trumpers?
22
It is time to solemnly and seriously talk about breaking this country up.
11
Another reason to mobilize the masses and destroy the Republican party in November.
11
First, they will attack and weaken medicate. Next up, Medicare. Believe it folks.
11
Republican Branding: Huge tax cuts for billionaires; death to poor people. Yes, it is that simple and that cruel.
18
Trump's war on the poor continues unabated.
15
Are you paying attention Trumpsters? Are you happy? Is this going to help you or hurt you. If the latter, remember, the cuts that hurt you help pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. Smile!!!!
11
Greatest Nation on Earth? Not by a longshot.
Money for endless wars, corporate tax breaks, and yet...we don't care about our own citizens, who must fend for themselves. Rotten healthcare system that puts profits before patients. We are told to pop pills, with the root causes of our ailments 'irrelevant'. We have more people in our For Profit prison system, than Any Other Nation. 1/3 of all those in our For Profit prisons have some form of mental illness (gee, what a great way to take care of our mentally ill, eh?)
We are killing our planet. Since 1970, the bird population in North America has declined by 29%.... that's almost One Third. You know, like the canary in a coalmine? But nah, nothing to worry about here.
A large portion of American adults are working at minimum wage jobs, often piecing together 2-3 jobs to make ends meet. But hey, the 'economy' is doing great!
We have crumbling infrastructure.... failing public schools....unaffordable colleges.... the NRA dictates to our government...
Ugh.
#Yang2020
10
the red states keep voting for people who enact policies that hurt red states.
13
The cruelty of these people is beyond belief.
17
Well America, enough of you wanted a “businessman” elected to run things and here’s what you got, a man who will cut programs that help the poorest among you yet give tax breaks to the wealthiest, a Commerce Secretary who thinks disease in another country will be “good for America” and a Secretary of State who can’t handle questions from a reporter who’s just doing her job. Only “the best people”, eh?
13
"Healthy Adult Opportunity" should be Healthy Adult Holdup, known as HAH, gotcha. States can spend the allocated funds as they wish which will generally mean corruption central. Just another step to destruction of our country.
10
Democratic candidates for President and Congress need to hammer this home and go on the offensive.
16
Will losing their Medicaid coverage be enough to sway his cult members away from voting against their interests again?
Probably not, so long as fear of the other is the #1 message of the Trump-GOP.
15
Recipe for social misery and social unrest: 1. give large tax breaks to the wealthy; 2. Cut medicaid, food stamps and any other governmental assistance to sustain the wellbeing of the poor.
Incredibly sad, cruel and short sighted policy changes forced on the nation by an amoral and corrupt executive branch.
628
@AA But good for Putin. There is nothing he would like more than to destabilize the US.
46
@AA exactly.
16
@AA
Wait til his working poor base becomes "actually" poor. That will be the real test.
14
I just don't understand how they can make such a drastic change without going through Congress. This, the work requirements for Medicaid, and the SNAP program changes in particular should have all gone through Congress. I hope they'll be sued by many interests.
17
@Paul Thomas
It's really quite simple to understand. trump is a dictator with an additional 253 or so elected officials propping him up!
Oh bother. Here we go again. We passed Medicaid expansion through popular ballot initiative. Any effort to enforce block grants will meet with similar retaliation. Everyone wants health care they don't need to think about. It's simply there. Having to refight the same political battle over and over again is tedious in the extreme.
Solution: Medicare for all. You don't need to worry whether a citizen is single, married, working, employed, adult, or disabled. You can disband Medicaid entirely because everyone, absolutely everyone, is covered. The federal government pays all costs with no caps. Let the bean counters figure out who pays for it.
18
Plenty of money if we just return those tax cuts for the rich.
21
All Medicaid needs is more money. I look forward to thoughtful suggestions from Democrats running for President and for Congress. Maybe the money can come from taxes on beverages, tobacco, and unhealthy foods.
3
More than enough money can come from the GOP’s 2017 donor tax cut. Repeal it. Then start looking at reducing the biggest item in the budget, our bloated defense budget, which tops $750 billion this year alone.
Most Trump voters thought he was going to reduce military spending by getting us out of the Middle East and out of peacekeeping missions. They thought all the money saved would be used in America. Instead he’s increased troop levels in the Middle East by 50,000 and ballooned the defense budget by 50 percent.
Trump needs to pay off his defense contractor donors. He can just make up stories for his voters. Chances are they’ll believe him.
5
@William McCain
And I look for thoughtful suggestions from Republicans how we can pay for endless wars and bloated Pentagon budgets. But on one ever asks where the money will come from when it comes to killing machines.
1
Another wrong-headed effort by the wealthiest elite to hurt the working class and poor in America where health outcomes already lag behind every index of industrial nations. If this change is successful, an epidemic like the corona virus could completely overwhelm the states capacity to provide medical care for the poorest residents. This is another Trump administration effort to pass on to on the states the cost of medical care while it takes tax payer dollars to build the biggest war capability the world has ever seen. The states will have to curtail services or raise state and local taxes to pay for the services which we have all considered as basic and necessary to maintain our quality of life.
23
What needs to be reined in is military spending! Second one could reduce costs by combining the ACA, Medicare and Medicaid into one broad insurance program.
27
Many State budgets are short of money. I have often thought just reducing the amount spent on law enforcement and prisons could, like reducing defense spending, reduce the deficits.
6
The ACA isn’t insurance, and I suggest taking a good look at where tax dollars actually go.
Limited funds for the health of the citizenry, unlimited funds for tax cuts for the rich and the military industrial complex. Winning!
102
While we are at it, we could look at some of the money we give to corporations and cut that off too.
35
The left idolizes what they regard as "European socialism" and one of the few things that is different about them is that health care is run by the individual states, not the EU.
Republicans are taking a meaningful step towards "European socialism". That's important since there is no way w can continue to afford the American version of socialism.
@Ed - Insurance is cheapest with the largest possible pool of enrollees. By having individual states make up their own pools, they lose much of the benefit of having a larger pool of people. And the smaller states will suffer the most - you know, those small population states that are mostly red.
6
@Ed .. The American version of socialism according to Republicans is unfettered, unlimited tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and suck it up, pull up your boot straps for the neediest Americans.
5
LOL. That’s creative rationalizing. So GOP efforts to cut federal spending will actually increase state spending and care.
You’re confusing countries with states. France can carry a national debt; Missouri can’t.
1
How about we get rid of some red state entitlement programs as well, like federal highway funds? Those should have been gone by the 70s when the major interstates were completed. All it is now is a redistribution of wealth from populous blue states to unpopulated red states.
57
More trump campaigning, the trump policy of human life is expendable whenever and wherever there are profits to be made whether foreign, domestic or domestic budget, and trump fans support this.
10
They are looking for people to hurt to pay for tax cuts that benefited the wealthiest among us. They will be clever and not touch the benefit that makes up the largest share of the Medicaid dollar. The nursing home business is full of people who have had schemes drawn up by lawyers to shift their assets to their children, so that Medicaid will pay for their care. The nursing home lobby is the most powerful here in Ohio. I expect it is the same in much of the nation.
Once again, the truly needy will be made to pay for the Republican base. Another convenient "welfare queen" false meme to campaign on.
42
Again those who voted for this man based on one idea or one issue will pay the price. As will we all. I wonder, as the quality of life in our republic sinks to new lows, will the TV glow of FOX and Friends keep these people warm? Will it keep them healthy? Will it allow them to keep their homes when illness prevents them from earning a living or receiving adequate care? When more and more of us have to care for elderly parents at home with our own hands, with worse healthcare, will the endless stream of propaganda ease their pain? If our leaders do not exhibit kindness and compassion today, one can easily guess the outcome when hardship comes knocking on at our door. We are on our own.
62
It will be interesting to see how much of President Trump base will be affected by this. Especially in states like Kentucky, Alabama, & Arkansas where he has a lot of support in.
45
Doesn’t matter. They will blame it on Obama, Hillary, AOC, Pelosi, Soros, etc.
The administration should make it a point to go after those providers and individuals who bilk the system. Focus on that instead of further undercutting the poor and disenfranchised.
27
Obama's idea for ACA Medicaid expansion was that it would eventually lead to universal coverage of sorts. He made it very enticing for states to take that deal (he could not compel them to). Unfortunately, Republicans and Fox News exist, so it did not go as planned. Now 1/3 of the country is committed to having worse health outcomes. We don't look very first-world that way.
84
@Roarke As a strong ACA supporter, just wanted to correct a few details in your comment. The Medicaid expansion as initially signed into law was actually compulsory. However, the Supreme Court held 7-2 (bipartisan decision) in NFIB v. Sebelius that the compulsory expansion was unconstitutional.
Subsequently, the failure of 12 (if I recall correctly) states not to expand Medicaid has undoubtedly been political of course. But there's a very good argument to be made that the ACA's reliance on Medicaid expansion was a misstep both in terms of policy (for other reasons as well) and political calculus...not just related to right-wing instragience.
Yet another reason not to live in a red state in the coming years. Trump's re-election will continue to create such disparities between red and blue states.
100
@A Science Guy
Not just red states. NY State's budget is $5B out of balance due to soaring Medicaid expenses. The governor has had to appoint a blue ribbon commission to come up with what will be painful cuts.
Until the pharmaceutical drug prices are forced to come down -- and that will never happen -- there is little hope for a solution.
16
@A Science Guy And unfortunately because of the Electoral College, votes in red states count WAY more than in blue ones, assuring his re-election. #timetoendtheelectoralcollege
1
Under Trump we are going back to the dark ages.
Everything he touches has a negative bent for this country.
We can start enumerating that, by looking at his environmental policy. Everything that this country has gained in regards to where we live, he has tried to nullify.
How about the economy. It is a false economy when there is a yearly deficit of one trillion dollars. The country cannot keep up the deficits much longer.
Then the Trump medical policy would just make working people sicker. My question would be, how is it that other countries are able to cover everyone under a medical umbrella and provide medical benefits to all their residents and the U.S. is going the other way?
How can we fix this?
Don't vote Republican,.
At this time you cannot believe anything that is said by a Republican, they are owned by Trump and we know Trump's record on truthfulness.
733
@Walt Sisikin
I personally know some physicians, dentists and physical therapists who don't want to work with private, state or federal insurance programs because they don't want to feed profits, system abuse and who knows what else into the current system. The thinking of enough of our citizenry is absolutely primitive and mind bogging when it comes to social welfare and benefits. I have a coworker who is a cancer survivor and hates the idea of public health insurance, but also hates the private one too. Go figure. More and more I am convinced that we as a nation deserve what we get - local, state and national politicians, policies and welfare. I know sick and poor people who hate anything related to ACA because it pays enormous money to private providers. They also oppose public option for the same reason. Total insanity. We are living in the early stages of a Maltusian society. Add to this climate change and the near future looks frightening. The distant future ... not so much, as most of us will be dead, as Keynes commented long time ago.
Enjoy
24
@Walt Sisikin - How do other countries do it? We cut out the middle people -the insurance industry. Canada provides medical care to every citizen but Medicare doesn’t cover some things in some provinces like physio therapy or prescription drugs outside of hospital care. Different provinces and territories have different extras. There are private insurance plans that cover most of the “extras” with a 10 or 15 percent co-pay.
But hospital care including ER and seeing family doctors or specialist doctors is paid for by taxes. That’s one of the reasons life expectancy in Canada is longer than for people in the US.
43
It's not trump...he's not aware of anything happening within the agencies until he's in front of the cameras with an entourage behind him signing something. It's the efforts of his GOP and industry appointees doing this. Why do you think they're working so hard to keep him as president?Because he dosen't care about the end result. All he wants is publicity so he can pretend how hard he's working.
25
Lol. "Capping funding, their argument goes, would make Medicaid more efficient and ensure it can continue to help the sickest and most vulnerable Americans." Seriously? Republicans always talk about efficiency when they really mean cut the program.
102
@Hugh MacDonald That's exactly what it is. A cut. But cutting Medicaid sounds bad, so they cap it instead and let inflation do the cutting anyway.
3
The disgraceful acts, rampant immorality, and shamelessness of all of this aside, it is truly remarkable how effective republicans have been in advancing their goals. For purely evil/corrupt reasons to be sure, but remarkable nonetheless. The Supreme Court, tax cuts, blocking gun reform, cutting Medicaid, the list goes on and on. I long for the day any of our democratic representatives are even half this effective in advancing our policy goals. We have the moral high ground, but it feels like our side is always losing.
542
@Exhausted unfortunately, it's about money. we are an oligarchy, and money is what determines who wins in this game. social justice and compassion have never been lucrative arenas.
77
@Exhausted
Well said. I too am frustrated at how the Democrats, who genuinely have the best interests of Americans as stake, are so often losing. Democrats would be wise to take a critical look at their party and acknowledge honestly where they need to change.
66
@Exhausted
Difficult to think about all of the poor GOP supporters who refuse to think but there own pockets.
17
Verifying eligibility to receive public assistance should be a high priority for all Americans, wherever on the political spectrum you are on.
This article posits the “increased paperwork” has led to a reduction of the rolls of Medicaid recipients. Maybe because that paperwork proved they didn’t qualify.
Most Medicaid patients I encounter only utilize the ER, because their copay is 0$, the ambulance ride is 0$, and all treatments cost 0$. Medicaid needs to be drastically limited and cut.
6
@Rob
In my area it takes months to find a doctor who will take medicaid and has an opening. Once you are a patient you can only rarely get in to see them for urgent issues. Most of these doctors are not particularly well informed of anything besides the most basic and common medical issues. Many of us who must use medicaid have complex medical problems. One doctor told me he didn't have time to deal with my issues so I should just go to the ER whenever I had a problem. I did. The ER doctors attempted to help but any specialist care required a referral from the primary. The only other primaries I could see were in the same clinic as that primary and none wanted to go through getting me the needed referrals through my medicaid HMO, which I was forced into as a cost saving measure by the state. Fortunately, I have a different primary insurance now but the many years I went without proper medical care for my life long disability left me with severe issues. I am just now starting to recover from the lack of treatment but going so long without what I needed likely left with with permenate deficits. I had been able to work part time and volunteer. I haven't been able to work or volunteer for years because of lack of treatment.
As far as paperwork, it sets up people for failure. My workers consistently send the renewal work late, lose the paperwork I turn in, forget to include some of the paperwork and then try to cut my secondary medicaid off because of their mistakes.
33
@Rob
Where and when do you encounter all these Medicaid patients. I'm also curious about your knowledge of all the paperwork involved.
Having dealt with Medicaid patients personally, I found most get inadequate care, lack choice of doctors, and needed resources.
Medicaid needs help not cuts.
20
@JJ
I'm on Medical here in California, and nothing you describe is like that. It was relatively easy to find a doctor, who is excellent. You have to be your own advocate and take charge, don't just be a passive actor.
5
As long as Republicans can cut taxes on rich people, anything is on the table, including taking medical care from people who can't afford it.
The party of zero empathy. Either you're rich, or you go out with the trash.
152
I'm glad you're calling it a safety net program instead of an entitlement like republicans want you to.
71
@Tom J
Huh? I see no Republicans calling Medicaid an entitlement, but if they did they would be incorrect.
Social Security is an entitlement, because recipients are entitled to its benefits given that they paid into the system for decades before receiving them.
Medicare is an entitlement, because recipients are entitled to its benefits given that they paid into the system for decades before receiving them.
Medicaid is not an entitlement. It is a safety net program limited to low-income individuals but funded by everyone's taxes.
1
As with every policy of this administration and its Republican henchmen, the cruelty is the point.
68
The GOP is determined to destroy the health care of this country. People will continue to be sickened and go to doctors and the hospitals it just won't be funded. Hospitals with unpaid bills will close, the first being those in the rural areas.
20
But: If those in many rural areas voted for Trump, then they knew what they voted for in terms of policies like these. Small rural hospitals would always have been at risk—just more so now. What on earth didn’t they understand about the GOP plans and dynamics of who leads relevant cabinet agencies?
So—exactly why are they suddenly concerned? They got what/who they wanted...no fair to the rest of us, and no sympathy is due to them, either!
Especially if they support Trump again, and wreak havoc in their own backyards yet again as well.
13
@Kathy last time Trump promised to deliver improved and cheaper healthcare for all. Obviously a lie but let's give people the benefit of the doubt.
His first action as president pretty much was to repeal the ACA, but lo and behold, GOP senators found that their constituents didn't want to lose their coverage, and that failed.
Trying to defund/decimate medicaid in the run up to the election seems like a rather strange tactic, as it will be fresh in the minds of voters come November and could be bad news for Trump's reelection, which is good news for the country!
9
@jaxcat Iin my red state, which still hasn't expanded Medicaid, our small town and rural hospitals are closing at the rate of more than one a month. Last year we had 15 rural hospitals close, after several previous years of more hospital closures. We're at the point now that some of the 'small town" hospitals that close were actually from bigger small towns (about 40,000) that served as regional health care hubs for a hundred miles around. When a hospital's patient mix is so heavily poor and uninsured, they may struggle on for a while but eventually they can no longer keep their doors open. In some parts of rural America, a major accident or illness is a death sentence because medical care is so far away.
5
Mr. Bloomberg, change your Super Bowl ad to focus on healthcare, not guns.
The need for affordable Healthcare is what all Americans agree upon and can be THE ISSUE that determines the outcome of the election.
A Gun regulation ad during a Super Bowl is like running an anti-smoking ad at a smokers convention.
172
@GW thumbs up!
16
@GW
Bloomberg knows everything, that was a stupid choice but he knows best. Maybe he might show a video of Stop& Frisk to go with Trump video's of children in cages at the border.
1
@GW, I can't agree more. If Dems want to win they shouldn't waste their time on wedge issues such as guns, gay marriage or abortion, win the WH and Senate then discuss wedge issues.
8
After this, it will be on to gutting Social Security. Enough talk of “Medicare for All”. The GOP is all in on Medicare for NONE.
135
Medicaid does not fund states "based on whatever they want to spend." The matching funds are provided only for certain services specified in federal law. The second largest fee-for-service expense (after acute care) is for long term care (e.g. nursing homes). Almost 2/3 of Medicaid spending is for people who are elderly or have a disabiity. This is the population that is growing. So don't believe the rationale of this Administration. The basic goal is to shift the burden to states as the elderly population grows. Additional benefits of retaining the federal match is that the funding goes up during recession. Further, the federal matching funds are nationally redistributive, mostly moving money from the coasts and northern states to southern states where the federal matching rate is higher (e.g., 77% for Mississippi v. 50% for California, New York, Massachusetts). Federal Medicaid revenues represent the single largest source of federal funds for states. As the Kaiser Family Foundation observes: "The infusion of federal dollars into the state’s economy results in a multiplier effect, directly affecting not only the providers who received Medicaid payments for the services they provide to beneficiaries,... More recent analyses find positive effects of the Medicaid expansion on multiple economic outcomes." All data here are taken from https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/medicaid-financing-the-basics/view/print/#footnote-397008-2
12
Medicaid block grants already apply to Puerto Rico, which ends up receiving about 75% of its per capita share compared to the states.
1
Article two: A president* can do whatever he wants. Kill the poor.
52
@db2 * As long as he/she/they believe it is in the national interest.
8
Mean, I’ll intended, and shortsighted. In fact this summarize much of the Trump Administration work. Economically speaking, healthcare expenses were one of the throngs that helped overcoming the Great Recession because it pushed money into a collapsing economy. Take this away and the next recession will be even worse. The GOP is out to ruin our lives
10
They are bringing back the “Old Deal”, pre-FDR.
10
Key word here is “block” as in block all Medicaid for poor folks.
15
It grieves me as a Christian that this administration wants to be ever so biblical when it comes to sexual mores but completely against the Bible when it comes to caring for the vulnerable.
148
@Timotheos What are you talking about? The thrice married prez and sexual predator cares about sexual mores?
2
@Timotheos Trump is sexual predator, and has no religious/moral beliefs. The religious, by nature, are generally susceptible to manipulation and Trump is playing a very good game. He cares not one whit about you or your religion. If anything, it seems that Trump has not only trashed America, but has also reduced the majority of Christians to looking like a cult.
1
Republicans are doing all they can to see that more hospitals go bankrupt across the country as people use emergency rooms.
Some people who have private insurance have rates going up 24% a year and they will be asked to pay as costs shift to them.
Make America Sick Again. How are people supposed to work when they are sick and not cared for?
11
I wonder how much time Ms Verma has spent working directly with people needing Medicaid? I’d like to see her work for a month providing services at a community clinic. Perhaps then she would see what is desperately needed.
9
Dream on. She is the epitome of hate and cruelty, and always has been, at least in her CMS career. Practically outdoing Trump in utter lack of compassion, tho I grant that she’s smarter than he is.
6
@Pat
This is the woman that wanted taxpayers to reimburse her $47,000 because her luggage was stolen from her rental car during a work trip. No empathy at all for those that need Medicaid.
8
The article does not explain if this change requires legislation or if it can be put in place purely by executive action.
2
@Stephen Weber
At this point is there a difference? We have found that we are no longer a nation of laws or have a co-equal government. We have been told by trump's legal "team" that the president can lie, cheat or steal his way to an election since his being re-elected is in the best interest of the nation. So, laws, schmaws! We don't need no stinking laws! We are now a dictatorship. If you had any doubts just watch the kangaroo, banana republic impeachment "trial" taking place in the senate. That's all you need to see.
This will end up in the courts, too.
Medicaid is a defined benefit program with some specific requirements, including requirements for matching funds.
States already have flexibility regarding eligibility, drug formulary, and services provided.
What is more frightening than this fight going to the courts is the packing of the courts to predetermine the outcomes, regardless of the logic or legal precedents that are bulldozed to get there.
12
Abby what's missing here is a comparison to how other countries manage and give out assistance to their able-bodied poor. How does Norway or Finland, both frequently rated highly for general happiness, assist or not assist this population? I think one thing that is surprising is they are often more generous with their poor, but with better incentives for working than us.
17
My understanding is that both Norway and Finland have single-payer systems and that there are no work requirements.
2
Capping Medicaid will simply force hospitals to shift costs to people with private health insurance. Typically, Blue Cross and other private insurers, while getting discounts from list prices, subsidize losses from public payors. So employers will likely face increased health insurance premiums and employed workers may find they are hurt too. This move accomplishes nothing and makes the system even less rational.
88
I wonder how many individuals in the Trump Base now think they are more better off with health care benefits and accessibility, and the fact that the country is now trillions more in national debt. I also wonder how much more better off are all of the Republicans who have benefitted from the reduction of taxes and the profits they have made on stock market transactions? The story of the “have nots” and the”haves”.
20
Of course we will look for ways to save money, i.e. restrict social programs for the poor.
Whether it’s Medicaid, SNAP, welfare payments, or soon social security, these programs need to be looked at very closely to make certain our federal dollars are well spent.
When it comes to military spending, billions of dollars on drones, missiles, assasinations, incursions, training missions and bases, no questions asked.
Our priorities are broken.
185
@PGM Not to mention tax cuts for the very rich
20
Looks as though this has been mostly targeted to the red states that did not expand Medicaid. So be it. This is what they voted for.
Unfortunate, but actions have consequences.
19
As a physician, Medicaid is truly a blessing for individuals and families without financial means.
At issue is that many physicians, unless they work as an employee of a hospital, do not accept Medicaid as providers. So the low fee schedule creates a barrier for patients seeing physicians whom they deem as ‘providing better care’. Personally, I would love to accept Medicaid if they paid a reasonable amount - $19 for a 45 minute visit isn’t something I could long afford...so the few Medicaid patients whom I see for cash visits do so because they want to be able to “sit down and understand my situation and be able to take the next best steps” without another “5 minute visit with 30 seconds of decision making” that often ends with another prescription.
On another note, in Vermont, prior to the ACA, there was a program that allowed subsidized commercial insurance with a very low ($150 per year) deductible, that allowed former Medicaid recipients to afford to return to work, and afford Insurance coverage. This was unfortunately discontinued under the ACA. I believe this type of “bridge” would be a wise expenditure for this group of patients.
My two cents.
66
The Trump administration is proposing a plan called “the Healthy Adult Opportunity” yet will allow fewer drugs for enrollees?
Who exactly benefits from this “opportunity” and how?
26
Wonder how many Republicans are in nursing homes dependent on Medicaid?
76
And the Republican plan to turn the U.S. into a Third World country continues.
112
We’re already there
30
@bijom The uneducated, non-military serving, electorate did that all on their own. You can't be a world superpower if your citizens don't believe in facts and reality.
This plan is another blow in the ongoing efforts of Trump to pass bills and laws that hurt the middle and lower classes.
But, these same people he's hurting vote for him.
It's all part of the brainwashing of America.
23
This proposal assumes the omniscience theory of big data: There is enough data, and enough knowledge of how to use it, to direct funds to only those poor people who are deemed to "deserve" these funds, according to one or another red-state legislature.
Meanwhile, even well-thought out ideas for targeting care to the neediest do not really save money, as NYTimes reports from Camden, NJ: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/08/health/camden-coalition-chronic-illness.html
Everyone needs expensive healthcare as some point in their lives. But there's no magic data bullet.
7
@Aaron Lercher
We can go to space fifty years ago and we cant do health care. We just have vulture capitalism and we cant believe that a poor person who is a minority or old has a right for quality medical care because you say so with your money.
Look at the Sackler family, Johnson& Johnsons destroying communities because poor people dont have rights because they are not seen as even human.
It isnt hard to be a country that loves there people, poor people are just not valued like rich white people. when it comes to wars yes they want us to fight but hot in charge because white superority is always in charge.
3
This may actually drive up the cost of medical coverage for the insured. Instead of going to the doctor for an illness the poor show up at the ER room. This is far more expensive and floods facilities with patients better served by an office visit.The cost gets passed on to consumers.
It also posses a public health risk if something like the Corona virus hits an area. Cutting off a segment of the population from access to medical care is foolish.
602
@Llewis It is definitely a public health risk since people will get various diseases and spread them to the general public if they have no health care. Such foolish and backward thinking.
90
@Llewis
Foolish, reckless and shortsighted.
53
@Llewis Trump will gut all Social Programs when he wins re election; kiss Obamacare; Medicare;; Social Security; Medicaid Goodbye.
114
What is wrong with these people who want pro-birth but then no healthcare
How can people not want all of us insured? I really don’t understand as a healthcare provider it makes me sadder and sadder every day I go to work
176
The cruelty is the point. Force a young woman who cannot provide for a child to raise one. Give her a bill for a delivery that she cannot afford. Shackle her and that child into a life of poverty that they will not be able to escape from due to poor public education, further medical bills, and only access to low paying jobs. This is nothing but cruel, which is the point of it all.
57
The people who are pro-birth, yet anti-healthcare view it as ‘tough love’; they want to create as much pain as possible so that women (not necessarily the men) will plan ahead and not get pregnant with babies they cannot afford to raise.
Then there are those on the far right who want to outlaw any form of contraception, so that women cannot control their reproductive lives, and hence, their careers. That eliminates competition for the jobs that men want, and view as their birthright.
Nevertheless, when women avoid sex due to relying on the rhythm method, these same women will be vilified because they deny access to their bodies.
25
Only this administration would have the audacity to call a plan that would allow FEWER drugs for enrollees while still requiring a MINIMUM set of benefits the “the Healthy Adult Opportunity”.
What Seema Verma, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is proposing is anything but creating a “healthy adult opportunity.”
This administration is clueless about what people need and require to simply survive.
41
They know, they don’t care
18
@Marge Keller Zejee beat me to it. They don't care.... do not care. No ethics, no morals... they only worship the almighty dollar that is sinking in value.
7
@Marge Keller
Just another Orwellian feel good title that means the opposite of what it states. Just more doublespeak.
5
The title should read along the lines of "Trump policy denies healthcare to many while claiming everyone will have healthcare."
In reality the poor will delay healthcare as long as possible because of lack of coverage and they will either die or wait until they are worse off and drive up costs of treatment.
32
I think it speaks volumes as to the state of our for-profit system that the traditional method of adjusting supply-demand (here, cutting funds available) doesn't result in a concurrent decrease in cost.
Instead, we just drop people from the rolls.
10
Well, well, well – Trump is proposing cuts to Medicaid to reduce the federal deficit if he wins a second term. Even if he were to beat the impeachment charges, this proposal will surely NOT be well received by the millions of senior Trump voters and could be what actually sinks him in the November election.
Funny how in 2017 when the Republicans passed that $1.5 trillion tax cut, it was received as a great plan for this country but now that those chickens are coming home to roost by way of the federal budget deficit surpassing $1 trillion in 2019, now suddenly programs like Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid are being considered for the chopping block.
Once again the Republicans have driven the deficit through the roof and the folks who will feel the most pinch from federal cuts will be those who need programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security the most.
So much for Trump’s promise in 2016 to “shield entitlements from cuts” and to “Save Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security without cuts. Have to do it. Get rid of the fraud. Get rid of the waste and abuse, but save it.”
205
@Marge Keller
Yup. If Republicans were confident about his reelection chances they would let this wait until next year.
7
@Marge Keller At least Trump announced this BEFORE the election. Hopefully, this will cause a lot of seniors to vote against him. But Fox News will tell them otherwise.
26
@Marge Keller Never underestimate the willingness of republicans (and Trump supporters even more) to vote against their own self interest. Seriously, this won't change a thing among the cult of Trump. When they're denied care, they simply won't make the connection. And blame Obama.
55
Expanding Medicaid eligibility was unquestionably one of the most important achievements of the ACA, along with getting rid of pre-existing condition clauses and mandating coverage of children on their parent's health insurance to age 26. People who criticize the short-comings of the ACA in their enthusiasm for achieving universal coverage often forget about Medicaid expansion. It is not surprising that the Republicans want to unravel this achievement. If you hope to achieve universal health insurance coverage going forward, it will be a much heavier lift if Medicaid is weakened.
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"States will be able to cap a portion of spending for the safety-net program, a change likely to diminish the number of people covered by the health program."
Can this be the Administration's way of fighting poverty by allowing more poor people to die for lack of medical care?
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@William Dufort
Your comment certainly resembles a plausible end game for this Administration.
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@William Dufort Dead people cannot vote and that is what a certain party wants.
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@William Dufort Dead people in China means more American jobs, according to this administration, so that sounds about right.
So pro-life.
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