CEO Message on the Defeat of the Graham-Cassidy Health Care Bill

On September 26, the United States Senate leadership decided not to bring the Graham-Cassidy health care bill to the Senate floor for a vote because it had no chance of passing.

While this is good news for those of us who felt the Graham-Cassidy bill would have ended Medicaid as we know it, I am not celebrating. It is still clear that the Republican leadership in both houses of Congress are focused on an effort to “Repeal and Replace” the Affordable Care Act (ACA). More importantly, they are still advocates of capping the federal contribution to Medicaid and using block grants for states as the vehicle to accomplish that, which would be devastating to the millions of Americans who depend on Medicaid for their health coverage.

This development ushers in a new era where Medicaid, for the duration of the Republican control of Congress, will be vulnerable to major restructuring. On behalf of our members and providers, L.A. Care Health Plan will be vigilant and alert to legislation and regulatory proposals impacting Medicaid and the ACA. We will seek to oppose, modify or support as necessary, depending on how such changes impact our members, providers or our ability to serve them.