American Health Care Act (AHCA)
March 21 update
Mental Health Task Force/ Make It Work Milwaukee Update –
Update on American Health Care Act – Amendments to be Introduced
The House is expected to vote this Thursday on the American Health Care Act (AHCA) which would radically restructure Medicaid by capping federal funding per beneficiary at a rate that is disconnected from beneficiary need and increasing health care costs. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the AHCA would cut $880 billion from Medicaid in next 10 years. As a result, funding for state Medicaid programs will shrink, resulting in waiting lists, cuts in services, and restricted eligibility. The bill will also repeal the Affordable Care Act. The AHAC as proposed would result in plans that cover less and cost more, limiting access for many people with disabilities who have significant health care costs and a modest income.
There is still time to contact your Congressional representative with your concerns about the proposal. If you are unsure who your Congressional representative is, enter your zip code here: https://www.contactingcongress.org/http://wi-bpdd.org/wp-content/…/2017/01/CongressionalMap.png
Last night, the two amendment to the AHCA were made public and are expected to be introduced on the floor. Thanks to Jon Peacock for sharing an update on the amendments. The amendments are attached, but he refers people to the summary documents below. Here are some other links with coverage of the amendments.
http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/3/20/14991750/republican-health-bill-ahca-amendments-changes
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/obamacare-repeal-bill-changes-236278
Barbara Beckert, Milwaukee Office Director
DISABILITY RIGHTS WISCONSIN
6737 W. Washington St., Suite 3230
Milwaukee, WI 53214
414-773-4646 Ext 2724 Voice
414-773-4647 Fax
barbara.beckert@drwi.org
From: On Behalf Of Jon Peacock
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2017 10:31 PM
Subject: [WI Health Matters] Manager's Amendments for AHCA
Apparently there are going to be two “manager’s amendments” offered to AHCA on the floor. The amendments are attached, but rather than trying to make sense of those, I’d suggest usning the links to the summary documents below.
Here are the changes that jump out to me – as I interpret the summary document:
· Prevent any new Medicaid expansions from being eligible for the enhanced federal match.
· Give states the option of instituting a work requirement for nondisabled, nonelderly, non-pregnant adults.
· Change the per capita cap by increasing the inflation factor for the elderly and disabled to the Medical CPI + 1%.
· Give each state the option of receiving their per capita allotments as a block grant. It sounds like the formula will be much the same as for the per capita allotments, EXCEPT there won’t be adjustments for changes in enrollment. Unused funds can be carried forward for as long as a state has a block grant.
· A long list of provisions that repeal ACA tax increases will be implemented (repealed) one year sooner – i.e., this year.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
· Text of H.R. 1628 PDF XML
American Health Care Act of 2017 (as reported)
:: Amendment #4 offered by the Hon. Greg Walden (OR) and Kevin Brady (TX) [Manager's Amendment—Technical Changes] PDF
— This amendment makes technical changes to conform with reconciliation instructions and address other drafting issues.
— Section-by-Section Summary PDF https://rules.house.gov/sites/republicans.rules.house.gov/files/115/PDF/115-AHCA-SxS-MNGR-Tech.pdf
:: Amendment #5 offered by the Hon. Greg Walden (OR) and Kevin Brady (TX) [Manager's Amendment—Policy Changes] PDF
— This amendment provides for the inclusion of additional policies affecting both Medicaid and the tax code.
— Section-by-Section Summary PDF https://rules.house.gov/sites/republicans.rules.house.gov/files/115/PDF/115-AHCA-SxS-MNGR-Policy.pdf
· H. Rept. 115-52 PDF
Report from the Committee on the Budget
policy-mngr_01_xml.pdf
tech-mngr_01_xml.pdf
Mental Health Task Force/ Make It Work Milwaukee Update –
Update on American Health Care Act – Amendments to be Introduced
The House is expected to vote this Thursday on the American Health Care Act (AHCA) which would radically restructure Medicaid by capping federal funding per beneficiary at a rate that is disconnected from beneficiary need and increasing health care costs. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the AHCA would cut $880 billion from Medicaid in next 10 years. As a result, funding for state Medicaid programs will shrink, resulting in waiting lists, cuts in services, and restricted eligibility. The bill will also repeal the Affordable Care Act. The AHAC as proposed would result in plans that cover less and cost more, limiting access for many people with disabilities who have significant health care costs and a modest income.
There is still time to contact your Congressional representative with your concerns about the proposal. If you are unsure who your Congressional representative is, enter your zip code here: https://www.contactingcongress.org/http://wi-bpdd.org/wp-content/…/2017/01/CongressionalMap.png
Last night, the two amendment to the AHCA were made public and are expected to be introduced on the floor. Thanks to Jon Peacock for sharing an update on the amendments. The amendments are attached, but he refers people to the summary documents below. Here are some other links with coverage of the amendments.
http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/3/20/14991750/republican-health-bill-ahca-amendments-changes
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/obamacare-repeal-bill-changes-236278
Barbara Beckert, Milwaukee Office Director
DISABILITY RIGHTS WISCONSIN
6737 W. Washington St., Suite 3230
Milwaukee, WI 53214
414-773-4646 Ext 2724 Voice
414-773-4647 Fax
barbara.beckert@drwi.org
From: On Behalf Of Jon Peacock
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2017 10:31 PM
Subject: [WI Health Matters] Manager's Amendments for AHCA
Apparently there are going to be two “manager’s amendments” offered to AHCA on the floor. The amendments are attached, but rather than trying to make sense of those, I’d suggest usning the links to the summary documents below.
Here are the changes that jump out to me – as I interpret the summary document:
· Prevent any new Medicaid expansions from being eligible for the enhanced federal match.
· Give states the option of instituting a work requirement for nondisabled, nonelderly, non-pregnant adults.
· Change the per capita cap by increasing the inflation factor for the elderly and disabled to the Medical CPI + 1%.
· Give each state the option of receiving their per capita allotments as a block grant. It sounds like the formula will be much the same as for the per capita allotments, EXCEPT there won’t be adjustments for changes in enrollment. Unused funds can be carried forward for as long as a state has a block grant.
· A long list of provisions that repeal ACA tax increases will be implemented (repealed) one year sooner – i.e., this year.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
· Text of H.R. 1628 PDF XML
American Health Care Act of 2017 (as reported)
:: Amendment #4 offered by the Hon. Greg Walden (OR) and Kevin Brady (TX) [Manager's Amendment—Technical Changes] PDF
— This amendment makes technical changes to conform with reconciliation instructions and address other drafting issues.
— Section-by-Section Summary PDF https://rules.house.gov/sites/republicans.rules.house.gov/files/115/PDF/115-AHCA-SxS-MNGR-Tech.pdf
:: Amendment #5 offered by the Hon. Greg Walden (OR) and Kevin Brady (TX) [Manager's Amendment—Policy Changes] PDF
— This amendment provides for the inclusion of additional policies affecting both Medicaid and the tax code.
— Section-by-Section Summary PDF https://rules.house.gov/sites/republicans.rules.house.gov/files/115/PDF/115-AHCA-SxS-MNGR-Policy.pdf
· H. Rept. 115-52 PDF
Report from the Committee on the Budget
policy-mngr_01_xml.pdf
tech-mngr_01_xml.pdf