The bill was designed to eliminate the individual and employer health care mandates, as well as transform federal Medicaid expansion into a block grant program.
This now leaves Republican leaders with few opportunities and little hope to succeed in their effort to repeal and replace President Obama’s landmark health care law.
Outside of the national spotlight, however, there is a more pernicious problem. States are forced to experiment with health care solutions to try to solve what the federal government cannot.
In particular, Massachusetts—a state that typically exemplifies our nation’s health care system—is testing out a new program that will only exacerbate inequalities in health care.
The proposed Massachusetts 1115 Waiver, while succeeding in expanding MassHealth, the state Medicaid program, to low-income families and vulnerable populations, rations drugs to children and the elderly.
Charles "Charlie" Baker, governor of Massachusetts, views a laptop computer during an interview at the Statehouse in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., on Monday, April 25, 2016. Billions of Medicaid dollars are at stake if Massachusetts fails to convince the federal government it can improve its performance and achieve payment reform, Baker said earlier this month. Photographer: Scott Eisen/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Charlie Baker
It also denies MassHealth patients access to FDA approved medicines that were recently approved through the 21st Century Cures initiative.
Despite tremendous bipartisan support for the 21st Century Cures Act, Governor Baker is putting innovative research, much of which is done in his own state, at risk.
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Senate Republicans have now decided that their latest Republican proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act will not come to a vote prior to the September 30th budget reconciliation deadline.
The bill was designed to eliminate the individual and employer health care mandates, as well as transform federal Medicaid expansion into a block grant program.
This now leaves Republican leaders with few opportunities and little hope to succeed in their effort to repeal and replace President Obama’s landmark health care law.
Outside of the national spotlight, however, there is a more pernicious problem. States are forced to experiment with health care solutions to try to solve what the federal government cannot.
In particular, Massachusetts—a state that typically exemplifies our nation’s health care system—is testing out a new program that will only exacerbate inequalities in health care.
The proposed Massachusetts 1115 Waiver, while succeeding in expanding MassHealth, the state Medicaid program, to low-income families and vulnerable populations, rations drugs to children and the elderly.
Charles “Charlie” Baker, governor of Massachusetts, views a laptop computer during an interview at the Statehouse in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., on Monday, April 25, 2016. Billions of Medicaid dollars are at stake if Massachusetts fails to convince the federal government it can improve its performance and achieve payment reform, Baker said earlier this month. Photographer: Scott Eisen/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Charlie Baker
It also denies MassHealth patients access to FDA approved medicines that were recently approved through the 21st Century Cures initiative.
Despite tremendous bipartisan support for the 21st Century Cures Act, Governor Baker is putting innovative research, much of which is done in his own state, at risk.
