Health Care — GOP leaders negotiate with Medicaid holdouts​

Presented by Alliance for Aging Research — Senate GOP leaders are looking to cut a deal with members of their conference who have balked at the impact of Medicaid cuts on rural hospitals. 

View Online Health Care Health Care   PRESENTED BY  The Big Story  GOP leadership negotiates with Medicaid holdouts Senate GOP leaders are looking to cut a deal with members of their conference who have balked at the impact of Medicaid cuts on rural hospitals.  Greg Nash, The Hill Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) are in talks with Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), among others, to create some kind of direct financial assistance for rural hospitals that would be in danger of closing if the Senate bill passes in its current form.    The senators have expressed concerns that scaling back the provider tax would negatively impact rural hospitals. Details are still being worked out on how much money would be put into the fund and how the money would be distributed.     But leadership wants to have the bill on President Trump's desk by July 4, so the ambitious timeline means they need to win over the holdouts quickly.     States impose taxes on providers to boost their federal Medicaid contributions, which they then direct back to hospitals in the form of higher reimbursements.     Critics argue it's a scheme for states to get more federal funding without spending any of their own money. But provider taxes have become ingrained into states' Medicaid financing systems. States and provider groups say the taxes provide a steady source of financing for hospitals that operate on thin margins and would otherwise face closure.     The Senate legislation would effectively cap provider taxes at 3.5 percent by 2031, down from the current 6 percent, but only for the states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The cap would be phased in by lowering it 0.5 percent annually, starting in 2027.   Read more here. Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. 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"Bobby Kennedy is going to kill more people than any Cabinet secretary, maybe in history, with his idiotic vaccine policy," Carville said Wednesday in an interview on Fox News Channel's "The Will Cain …  Full Story Around the Nation  Local and state headlines on health care: Treasurer believes SCOTUS decision will influence NC State Health Plan case (The Carolina Journal)  Oklahoma health care ranked nearly the worst in the nation (Oklahoma Voice)  We caught 4 more states sharing personal health data with Big Tech (StateScoop6)  A MESSAGE FROM ALLIANCE FOR AGING RESEARCH 14 Ways to Cut Red Tape—and Protect Patient Care What We're Reading  Health news we've flagged from other outlets: Trump administration actions contradict MAHA rhetoric on toxic chemicals (NPR)  Trump travel restrictions bar residents needed at U.S. hospitals (The New York Times)  Top gene therapy regulator forced out of FDA (Stat)  What Others are Reading  Most read stories on The Hill right now: LA Dodgers deny ICE access to stadium grounds The Los Angeles Dodgers said Thursday they denied Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entry to their stadium grounds. “This morning, … Read more Senate GOP leader faces pushback after members blindsided by Trump bill Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is facing strong pushback from members of the GOP conference over the Finance Committee’s piece of … Read more What People Think  Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: Supreme Court's Skrmetti decision bolsters legacy of protecting children's health Children will get sick and die because Trump owed RFK Jr. a favor   You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Check out The Hill's Health Care page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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