Medicaid Expansion’s Unlikely Defenders: Republican Governors

The GOP governors who opted to expand Medicaid are now having to fight to retain a part of the health law that is so unpopular with other Republicans.

The Associated Press: Republican States That Expanded Medicaid Want It Kept

Former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer fought her own Republican party in the state Legislature for months to push through a Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. That was three years ago. Now, as an early Donald Trump supporter who has his ear, Brewer hopes one of the pillars of President Barack Obama’s health care law can be saved as Trump pushes to dump much of the overhaul. (Christie, 11/27)

Wall Street Journal: Planned Medicaid Overhaul Could Put GOP Governors In An Awkward Spot

President-elect Donald Trump has proposed converting the federal-state [Medicaid] program into block grants to the states in an effort to give them more latitude over how the program is run. This would jibe with many leading Republicans in Congress, who for years have wanted a Medicaid overhaul that hands more control over to the states. But such a move is likely to expose divisions among Republicans over how significantly to peel back coverage protections for the more than 12 million people who gained Medicaid in the 31 states, as well as Washington, D.C., that expanded the program. (Armour, 11/24)

The Hill: Governors Planning 'Very, Very Active' Role In ObamaCare Rewrite

State leaders are positioning themselves to have a key voice in a potential rewrite of ObamaCare next year. With the election of Donald Trump, Republican leaders in Congress have promised a dramatic overhaul of President Obama’s signature policy. The National Governors Association (NGA), a proudly bipartisan group representing every state, is now eyeing a more public — and more aggressive — role alongside GOP leaders as they attempt to gut the massive federal program. (Ferris, 11/26)

Kaiser Health News: Pence Expanded Health Coverage As Governor, Now Threatens To Take It Away

Chris Cunningham was so thrilled with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, she readily accepted his invitation to an event celebrating its first anniversary in January. Gaining Medicaid ended her eight years without health coverage and paid for her treatment of a thyroid problem, her lung disease and prescription drugs to help both. She stopped working in 2008 to care for her disabled husband. (Galewitz, 11/28)

Columbus Dispatch: Fate Of Ohio’s Medicaid Expansion Tied To Obamacare’s Future

Nearly 71,000 low-income Franklin County residents could lose their tax-funded health insurance if President-elect Donald Trump and congressional Republicans make good on promises to repeal and replace the federal Affordable Care Act. The residents are among the 692,532 Ohioans who gained coverage under Republican Gov. John Kasich’s 2014 expansion of Medicaid. How the Medicaid expansion, a key piece of Obamacare, might change is creating uncertainty and angst. (Candisky, 11/28)

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