Washington senators: Don’t jam through new Trumpcare plan

Sept. 19, 2017 Updated Tue., Sept. 19, 2017 at 11:03 p.m.

By Jim Camden and Betsy Z. Russell The Spokesman-Review

Idaho group calls GOP plan ‘repeal without replace’

An Idaho coalition denounced the new GOP health care bill in the U.S. Senate as “a repeal without replace” proposal that would cause catastrophic cuts for residents with disabilities who rely on the state’s current Medicaid program.

It also would eliminate subsidies that allow 74,000 Idahoans to purchase insurance plans through the state’s exchange, members of Close the Gap Idaho said.

“Idahoans with disabilities rely on Medicaid services to get into and out of bed, to bathe, eat and conduct other activities of daily life,” said Jim Baugh, executive director of Disabilities Rights Idaho.

Susie Pouliot, chief executive officer of the Idaho Medical Association, said it would “derail” the state’s successful insurance exchange.

Brian Whitlock, president of the Idaho Hospital Association, called two of bill’s three major provisons “absolutely horrible.”

“Loosening regulations is a good thing, but cutting health care funding and depriving thousands of hard-working Idahoans of necessary coverage are not reforms that will improve the access and affordability of health care,” Whitlock said.

Close the Gap Idaho is a broad coalition of health care stakeholders in Idaho, including representatives of providers, consumers, advocates, clergy, charities and others. It began by advocating to close Idaho’s health coverage gap, which leaves roughly 78,000 without affordable care options because the state hasn’t expanded its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act; it has continued to study and advocate for ways to improve health care in Idaho.

- Betsy Z. Russell

Washington’s Democratic senators called for a bipartisan fix to health care rather than the latest GOP effort.

But Idaho’s senior Republican senator said he’s evaluating the proposal as he tries to keep a promise to repeal and replace “Obamacare.”

Sen. Maria Cantwell urged her Republican colleagues to slow down their efforts to make major changes to the nation’s health care system, saying it’s more important to get it right than to finish quickly.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Cantwell called the proposal that may come up for a vote before the end of the month an attempt to kick people off Medicaid and end the program as it now exists.

“There is nothing innovative about privatizing Medicaid,” the Washington Democrat said. Rather than push for a vote on the Republican bill being developed by Sens. Lindsay Graham and Bill Cassidy, the Senate should continue bipartisan discussion for a bill that members of both parties can support, she said.

Sen. Patty Murray is involved in that bipartisan effort as the top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee. She and Sen. Lamar Alexander, who is chaiman, held a series of four hearings over two weeks with patients, doctors, hospital officials and insurance experts to develop new legislation.

They’ve had discussions with more than half the Senate and negotiated in good faith for weeks, Murray said Tuesday. They identified common ground and she made some “tough concessions” to move toward Alexander’s push for more flexibility for states.

“I am disappointed that Republican leaders have decided to freeze this bipartisan approach and are trying to jam through a partisan Trumpcare bill,” she said. “But I am confident that we can reach a deal if we keep working together, and I am committed to getting that done.”

Sen. Mike Crapo is evaluating the Graham-Cassidy proposal, his press secretary said, and “remains committed to fulfilling the promise of repealing and replacing Obamacare.”

“At this point, no new vote has been scheduled on health care reform measures and discussions continue among members this week both on this issue and tax reform,” Crapo spokesman Robert Sumner said.

Washington senators: Don’t jam through new Trumpcare plan

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