Republican policymakers have vowed to repeal and replace the ACA, although it is unclear whether they will seek to repeal the law in its entirety or in part. As policymakers grapple with the legislative situation, they may need to address the implications repealing the ACA may have for Medicare, beneficiaries and other stakeholders, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation brief.
The brief, released Tuesday, examines these implications.
Here are six takeaways from the brief.
1. Full repeal of the Medicare provisions in the ACA would increase Medicare spending by $802 billion from 2016 to 2025, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
2. Kaiser Family Foundation's analysis anticipates repealing the ACA's sustained reductions in provider payments would increase Part A and Part B spending. According to the CBO, approximately $350 billion in higher Medicare spending over 10 years could result from repealing ACA provisions that altered provider payment rates for traditional Medicare. Repealing these provisions would increase payments to providers, the brief states.
3. Additionally, repealing the Medicare Advantage-related provisions in the ACA would increase Medicare spending by roughly $350 billion over 10 years, according to the CBO.
4. An increase in payments to hospitals and other healthcare providers and Medicare Advantage plans would likely result in higher premiums, deductibles and cost sharing for Medicare-covered services paid out-of-pocket by patients, according to the brief.
5. Full repeal of the Medicare provisions in the ACA would reduce premiums for higher-income beneficiaries, and reduce payroll tax contributions from beneficiaries, as well as other taxpayers, with high earnings, according to the brief.
6. Partial repeal of the ACA, the brief states, could also have implications for Medicare spending, the Part A trust fund solvency date and beneficiaries' costs.
Click here to read the full brief.
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