Medicaid Changes, Are Block Grants Being Discussed?

Medicaid block grants…again? Not only is Medicare in the spotlight for revamp, so too is Medicaid.  Kaiser Health News reported this in Millions Could Lose Medicaid Coverage Under Trump Plan. The article explains

One major change endorsed by both Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) would transform Medicaid from an entitlement program into a block grant program.

Here’s the difference. In an entitlement program, coverage is guaranteed for everyone who’s eligible. The federal government’s commitment to help states cover costs is open-ended. The states’ obligation is to cover certain groups of people and to provide specific benefits. Children and pregnant women who meet specific income criteria must be covered, for example.

The article notes that this isn’t the first time that block grants for Medicaid has been proposed. “Turning Medicaid into a block grant program has been discussed for more than 25 years, but the idea has always met resistance from some states, health providers, health care advocates and Democrats. Even with a Republican majority in Congress and Trump in the White House, the plan would still face an uphill legislative battle.”

And don’t forget the statements regarding undoing the Affordable Care Act:

The biggest risk for Medicaid beneficiaries comes from pledges by Trump and other Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which provided federal funding to states to expand Medicaid eligibility starting in 2014. Thirty-one states and Washington, D.C. did so, adding 15.7 million people to the program, according to the government. About 73 million are now enrolled in Medicaid — about half are children.

The article focuses on some of the other options that may be considered in determining whether to make changes to Medicaid.

All these proposed changes are a lot to take in. So hang on and stay tuned.