While Conservatives hold extreme positions and want sweeping ACA repeal changes, Republicans are looking to find a suitable replacement for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), one that will pass through Congress. In a country where nearly 28.5 million US citizens are not covered by health insurance, delay in bringing in changes is not acceptable to the Conservatives. On the other hand, Republicans believe in taking a step-by-step approach, one that Congress will approve. The House Freedom Caucus consisting of 40 hardline Conservatives want massive cuts in federal funding, in line with changes demanded in proposed bills that were earlier vetoed.
Barack Obama had opposed a bill that allowed for federal funding towards for Planned Parenthood. Videos later revealed the release of excess funds led to the sale of fetal tissue.
How will ACA repeals like capita cap or block grant help?
President Donald Trump has called for fundamental changes in the way Medicaid is structured. A RCA repeal proposal put forward by the Republicans suggests per capita cap or block grant is the way to go, as federal funds directed towards Medicaid can be capped and individual funding regulated as well. Currently, federal funds are disbursed more to the aged and individuals suffering from disabilities. Statistics reveal spending per Medicaid enrollee is considerably lower in the south and increases substantially in the north-eastern states.
Uniform disbursement of funds will benefit able-bodied persons and increase the scope for affordable Medicaid to reach more Americans. Healthcare must reach those beyond a small chunk of high spenders that currently garner most of the spending.
ACA repeal must bring in equitable health coverage
Since the ACA took effect, children below 18 years of age have experienced tremendous health coverage gains.
The percentage of Latino children not covered under any form of health insurance came down from 19% to 7.5% with the help of programs like ACA and Medicaid. If the ACA repeal goes through without a step-by-step process being implemented, there is a strong possibility these changes will not hold in the long run and will cause greater hardship to the American people.
More debates are likely to take place before the March deadline when legislation is due to bring in Obamacare changes.
The fact that Latino children will make up one-third of the total U.S. child population by 2050 will weigh heavily on the minds of Congressmen, who will try to bring in an ACA repeal act that allows people more access to doctors, brings in more service providers and drives costs down.
