Today, US Senators Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) announced their intention to offer an amendment to the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) on CNN At This Hour. The new plan would return to the conservative principal of federalism by granting funds to states and giving them the flexibility to design their own systems to take care of the unique needs of patients in their state.
“Obamacare took power from states—this returns that power,” said Dr. Cassidy. “It allows the people of the states to craft something that works for them.”
To watch the interview, click here.
Under Cassidy’s proposal:
- Federal dollars currently spent on Obamacare health insurance – an estimated $110 billion in 2016—would be annually granted to the states to allow for local innovation and flexibility for health care services.
- The individual mandate and employer mandate instituted under Obamacare would be repealed under Senate reconciliation rules which only require 50 votes.
- The requirements covering pre-existing conditions would be maintained.
- The Obamacare medical device tax would be repealed.
- Federal Medicaid funding to the states will continue to grow in a sustainable manner, adjusted for inflation. Provides additional flexibility to the states to ensure health care dollars are spent in a manner providing the most effective and efficient coverage based on their health care needs and populations.
- Federal funds would be restricted to health care spending only. These funds could be distributed by the states in the forms of tax credits, reinsurance, health savings account premiums, and other means as the individual states see fit to meet their health care needs.