House Dems Worry Rules Package Could Lead Medicaid, Medicare Spending To Become Discretionary

[flamingdem]

https://insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/house-dems-worry-rules-package-could-lead-medicaid-medicare-spending-become-discretionary

House Democrats fear the rules package for the 115th Congress -- introduced and passed Jan. 3 -- could lay the ground for changing Medicare and Medicaid into discretionary programs, a Democratic aide said Tuesday (Jan. 3).

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) introduced the new rules the same day Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) submitted a budget resolution in the Senate that, if passed, would fast-track repeal of the Affordable Care Act through budget reconciliation. The House will start the ACA repeal through reconciliation Jan. 13, according to a Democratic aide.

“Make no mistake, the Rules package passed by House Republicans today sets the stage for radical changes to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and cuts to benefits that provide health and financial security to millions of Americans,” Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) told Inside Health Policy. “By demanding that Committees plan how to turn guaranteed funding into discretionary spending -- subject to annual budget cuts -- House Republicans are preparing the way for changes that would make seniors, people with disabilities, children and families worse off, and are overturning a decades-long policy.”

The 115th Congress rules package states that by Feb. 15 each House standing committee -- excluding Appropriations, Ethics and Rules -- must develop recommendations that include changes to current law, which would move programs or agencies from mandatory funding to discretionary appropriations.

The new rules package comes a month after Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to head HHS, floated budget changes to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Inside Health Policy reported in December that Price's plan would require a budget resolution to distribute proposed funding levels throughout discretionary spending; Medicare; Medicaid and other health-related spending; and Social Security, among others. Price was chair of the House Budget Committee last Congress. At the time, Price said that he was confident House Republicans would move forward with his proposal even if he leaves Congress to join the Trump administration.

A Democratic health policy aide said changes to discretionary programs can happen under the radar in omnibus bills, and that tweaks to programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in appropriations bills could restrict access and benefits and discriminate against certain providers.

In the resolution debated on the House floor Tuesday, Ways & Means ranking Democrat Richard Neal (MA) called the resolution a “sneaky effort to alter Medicare and its guarantee.”

On Wednesday (Jan. 4), Neal will join House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to voice concerns about the resolution’s potential impact on Medicare and Social Security.

[pangaia]

1. The anti-human party.

All I can say is, call out reps, call and call... email...

Neal, Pelosi Sanders and Schumer will.."....voice concerns about the resolution’s potential impact on Medicare and Social Security."

What is this 'voice concerns' garabage.. jeeez... Let them have it with all 8 barrels and somehow get the word out to the 350 odd million humans in this country what is going on... Millions upon millions of them have no idea.They have no idea that we have been the victim of a coup... they know nothing...

[krawhitham]

2. K&R

[napi21]

3. I've been listening toi what the Con's been saying, and what the Pubs in the House say

they want to do. Almost all is against what the Con campaigned on. If the House tries to privatize Medicare and/or Social Security, I believe all the Dem voters AND most of those Pubs who voted for the Con will revolt. She talk on ATV now is about how many people contacted their reps today and succeeded in having them pull back on eliminating the ethics laws. If they were convinced by complaints about the ethics law, WAIT to see how many calls, emails, tweets, and any other method of contact there are from very upset constituents demanding they leave Medicare and Social Security the hell alone!

[flamingdem]

4. I'm thinking about a country wide General Strike

but what worries me are the sneaky maneuvers where there's not enough time