Written by Leigh Page
Congressional Republicans have introduced a bill that would repeal the mandate in the healthcare reform law requiring states to expand their Medicaid rolls starting in 2014, according to a release by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Both House and Senate Republicans introduced the bill, which would also repeal generous federal subsidies for the states to expand their Medicaid rolls. According to preliminary CBO estimates, the bill would save $2.8 billion over the first five years and $2.1 billion over 10 years.
The lead sponsors, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), said they hope the bill would attract bipartisan support. Republican governors and even some Democrats have said the Medicaid expansions would be too burdensome for states with tight budgets.
Read the House Energy and Commerce Committee release on healthcare reform.
Read the bill sponsors' joint review of states' perspectives (pdf).
Related articles on the efforts to reduce Medicaid funding:
Hospitals, Practices Wary of Move to Medicaid Managed Care
President Calls GOP Plans for Medicare, Medicaid 'Radical'