Policy and Legislation
Bill is part of proposed reforms that supplement the American Health Care Act; Trump administration pledged to support the tort reform legislation.
Medicaid pays for about two-thirds of 1.4 million elderly in nursing homes; it covers 20 percent of Americans, 40 percent of elderly poor adults.
The number of uninsured by 2026 would increase by 22 million, 1 million less than what was estimated under the House bill.
Consumers who let their coverage lapse for 63 days would be locked out of the insurance market for six months the following year.
Never be too far ahead or too far behind when it comes to participation in value-based payment models, expert says.
State officials are hoping to win a 21-month extension of an agreement that began in 2011 and will expire in December.
Health law experts caution coverage gap fix for these very low earners would likely be largely undercut by two other changes in the bill.
In the short term, there's immediate stability for insurers in the bill's funding for cost-sharing reduction payments through 2018.
About a fourth of respondents said the bill made "minor reductions" to Medicaid, and 13 percent didn't realize there were any proposed cuts.
Plans sold to individuals might exclude coverage for prescription drugs, mental health, addiction, maternity care, other expensive benefits.