Many in Texas are keeping a close eye on the Republican bid to replace the Affordable Care Act. One of the big changes is how it would affect low-income people, seniors, and people with disabilities who get help from Medicaid. And people on both sides of the political spectrum say the Lone Star State is not going to fare well.
As the GOP bill, the American Health Care Act, works its way through Congress, Anne Dunkelberg with the left-leaning in Austin says she‘s a little stumped.
“I have worked on Medicaid and uninsured and health care access issues in Texas for well over 20 years,” she chuckles. She says this bill leaves the fate of some current funding streams unclear and there‘s she‘s particularly concerned about. Texas has with the federal government to help reimburse hospitals for the cost of caring for people who don‘t have insurance. And Texas has more uninsured residents than any other state.
“About half of what Texas hospitals get from Medicaid today comes through payments that are outside from the regular Medicaid program,” she says, which adds up to $4 billion in federal funds every year.
Source: Texas Braces For Medicaid Cuts Under GOP Health Plan / Stock Daily Dish