Republican Representative Joe Pitts (Penn) is attempting to introduce the Common Sense Savings Act, which would alter the way certain Americans qualify for Medicaid. The bill aims to leave out Lottery winners and prisoners from the Medicaid system, as well as allowing states to lower the minimum provider tax. Democrats are expected to oppose this act.
BNA discusses the details of the bill.
Under the Common Sense Savings Act sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), “multimillion dollar jackpot” lottery winners wouldn’t be eligible for Medicaid, states would be able to lower the maximum provider tax and the federal government would pay a lower share of Medicaid expenses for prisoners, among other provisions. The markup is scheduled for March 15, and could hint at how House Republicans are positioning Medicaid in their annual budget.
The bill (H.R. 4725) also would repeal the ACA’s Prevention and Public Health Fund and make changes to the federal matching funds to states as part of the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
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[…T]he bill would eliminate federal matching funds for prisoners who would otherwise be eligible for Medicaid and replace it with the state’s regular matching rate. As a result of the ACA’s Medicaid expansion, more prisoners are likely to be eligible for Medicaid in states that have expanded Medicaid. Prisoners’ enrollment in Medicaid represents a significant cost shift to the federal government, and the legislation seeks to end that.
For more information on the bill, read the full article here. It is expected that Democrat Representatives will oppose the bill.
Photo by Bob Jagendorf via Flickr CC License
