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Families USA PPACA Webinar
Jan. 25th, 2017 03:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
executrixI just finished listening to Families USA's Webinar about PPACA repeal. Great job! It will probably be archived online in a couple of days if you want to listen, although you might need a Policy Wonk- to-English translation. They also covered Medicaid issues. Medicaid is a major target for the Republicans. It's not just a program for poor people, though--Medicaid pays for about 70% of nursing home care. I'm sure Trump voters will appreciate having their mothers-in-law delivered to them when the nursing home shuts down.
They're actually kind of hopeful, because the Republicans are further away than ever from having a plan, and more and more people are telling them that they don't want repeal without a meaningful replacement. Congress is recessing on Feb. 20. Congressional Republicans are having a policy retreat to come up with ANYTHING. A "strategic retreat" has been defined as a "rout," and a "phased retreat" as a "rout with insufficient transport," so I'm hoping for the latter.
Anyway, for the non-wonks among you, Families USA wants to hear your PPACA and advocacy stories: post to contact@familiesusa.org. And check out their site--they have social media advocacy tools that can be applied to other issues.
My take on this fucking awful mess is that PPACA repeal and especially Medicaid cuts will harm two groups that won't take it lying down: insurance companies and governors. PPACA has been a gravy train for insurers, and although they complain about not being allowed to raid your entire bank account and give nothing in return, they're still making out like the bandits they are.
One crucial difference between Medicare and Medicaid is that Medicare is 100% federally funded (and uniform nationwide) whereas Medicaid varies from state to state (and sometimes by county within a state)--and, crucially, states pick up a part of the cost. The poorer the state, the higher the federal share and the lower the state share. But federal Medicaid funding will probably be "block granted"--i.e., states will just get a fixed amount, and will have to pay the difference between actual costs and the block grant. Imagine that you are a governor, and how much fun you will have looking behind the couch cushions for change!
They're actually kind of hopeful, because the Republicans are further away than ever from having a plan, and more and more people are telling them that they don't want repeal without a meaningful replacement. Congress is recessing on Feb. 20. Congressional Republicans are having a policy retreat to come up with ANYTHING. A "strategic retreat" has been defined as a "rout," and a "phased retreat" as a "rout with insufficient transport," so I'm hoping for the latter.
Anyway, for the non-wonks among you, Families USA wants to hear your PPACA and advocacy stories: post to contact@familiesusa.org. And check out their site--they have social media advocacy tools that can be applied to other issues.
My take on this fucking awful mess is that PPACA repeal and especially Medicaid cuts will harm two groups that won't take it lying down: insurance companies and governors. PPACA has been a gravy train for insurers, and although they complain about not being allowed to raid your entire bank account and give nothing in return, they're still making out like the bandits they are.
One crucial difference between Medicare and Medicaid is that Medicare is 100% federally funded (and uniform nationwide) whereas Medicaid varies from state to state (and sometimes by county within a state)--and, crucially, states pick up a part of the cost. The poorer the state, the higher the federal share and the lower the state share. But federal Medicaid funding will probably be "block granted"--i.e., states will just get a fixed amount, and will have to pay the difference between actual costs and the block grant. Imagine that you are a governor, and how much fun you will have looking behind the couch cushions for change!
