Four GOP senators pledge to vote against rolling back Medicaid expansion

[Maj. Bill Martin]

For those upset because the House plan doesn't go far enough, here are four Senators who say they won't vote for it because it goes too far.  And obviously, if they're objecting to a phase-out and reduction in the amount of the federal Medicaid subsidy, they'd be even more opposed to a flat-out repeal that would just eliminate it altogether.

Four GOP senators pledge to vote against rolling back Medicaid expansion

Four GOP senators on Monday told Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) they will vote against any ObamaCare repeal bill that eliminates the healthcare law's Medicaid expansion. Sens. Rob Portman (Ohio,) Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Cory Gardner (Colo.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), all from expansion states, said they want to ensure those covered won't be left in the cold.

"We believe Medicaid needs to be reformed, but reform should not come at the cost of disruption in access to health care for our country’s most vulnerable and sickest individuals," the senators said in a letter to McConnell.

"Any changes made to how Medicaid is financed through the state and federal governments should be coupled with significant new flexibility so they can efficiently and effectively manage
their Medicaid programs to best meet their own needs."  The senators said a "gradual transition" is needed to ensure states have the time to implement changes.

They noted that a Feb. 10 draft of the repeal bill "does not meet the test of stability" for people currently enrolled in the program.
"We will not support a plan that does not include stability for Medicaid expansion populations or flexibility for states," the letter reads.
Some of the Senate's most conservative members, however, have argued the expansion must be repealed because it is too costly.


http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/322581-gop-senators-raise-red-flags-over-repeal-bill-that-would-eliminate-medicaid

[LMAO]

 Medicaid was already facing insolvency before the Medicaid expansion.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Medicaid was already facing insolvency before the Medicaid expansion.

Very true.  But that doesn't change how those four Senators feel about "Obamacare lite" much less the full, immediate repeal some are demanding.

The votes aren't there for what some are demanding.