John Boehner ‘started laughing’ at GOP’s latest phony promises about replacing Obamacare

The stakes for Republicans are already high.

As Obamacare repeal efforts are underway by Republicans, it seems the 2010 health law is becoming more popular. “What will be different is that [the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services] will not dictate to every single state how the plan’s going to run”. The discussions are likely to continue at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington this week, and as Kasich privately meets later this week with Trump at the White House. Of note, in a February 21 brief to clients, Ralph Giacobbe, a securities analyst for Citi, pointed out that eight states that expanded Medicaid under the ACA also included statutory triggers to cease their expansion programs should Congress reduce the enhanced federal match below levels guaranteed by the ACA.

About 13.5 million people have been added to the Medicaid rolls since 2013, including some who had always been eligible but had not enrolled for a variety of reasons.

According to the several people familiar with House leadership’s approach, a central idea under consideration there – new health-care tax credits – hit a snag this week when congressional budget analysts reported privately to the committee that they would cost the government a lot of money and would enable relatively few additional Americans to get insurance. More than half said Medicaid is important to them or family members.

The party is still divided over key issues – including how far to take the repeal bill. She declined to elaborate on whether their coverage is through the ACA marketplace or the Medicaid expansion but said previous coverage for her son, starting when he was diagnosed at 5 years old, cost $500 a month. Republicans say income-based credits, as exists under Obamacare, discourage work.

On the campaign trail a year ago, Trump promised a prompt repeal of Obamacare, often calling it a failed policy.

“Republicans never ever agree on healthcare”, Boehner said.

Politico’s Paul Demko released a draft Friday of the reconciliation bill designed by House Republicans that would repeal and replace the ACA.

But several people involved in the discussions say the biggest challenge right now is how to resolve the Medicaid dilemma.

“I would like to see the insurance plans allow more variety in who they can go and see, not just one doctor or two”, one survey respondent remarked. Maybe they will not be so laid back when thousands of constituents start asking, “What happened to my health care?”

Rep. Mike Burgess (R-Texas), a doctor who sits on a House health subcommittee, told the conservative crowd that a reduction in the number of people with health insurance coverage shouldn’t be viewed as a negative.

When asked about the Republican plans to overhaul the Medicaid program, almost two-thirds of those polled prefer the current Medicaid program to either a “block grant” that gives states more flexibility but would limit Medicaid’s now unlimited budget, or a “per capita cap”, which would also limit spending to states but would allow federal funding to rise with enrollment increases. The proposal includes language allowing insurers to offer grandfathered plans to permit people to keep their current plans.