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DURHAM D

(32,596 posts)
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 12:56 AM Sep 2017

The Trillion-Dollar Loophole

"Page 30 of the Graham-Cassidy bill, which creates a “state specific population adjustment factor,” completely undermines the rest of the bill’s funding formula: “IN GENERAL.—For calendar years after 2020, the Secretary may adjust the amount determined for a State for a year under subparagraph (B) or (C) and adjusted under subparagraphs (D) and (E) according to a population adjustment factor developed by the Secretary.”


In other words, if the secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) doesn’t like the funding formula, he can change it however he likes. That’s a trillion-dollar loophole that leaves HHS bureaucrats with the ultimate say over how much money states will receive.

The bill does say that HHS must develop “legitimate factors” that affect state health expenditures—so it can’t allocate funding based on, say, the number of people who own red socks in Alabama. But beyond those two words, pretty much anything goes."



http://thefederalist.com/2017/09/20/graham-cassidys-funding-formula-gives-washington-unprecedented-power/

Don't care for the source but this is absolutely crazy.

Every Governor and State legislator in the country should be against this bill. So should every Federal legislator but Republicans only worry about job retention. $$$$$$$


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The Trillion-Dollar Loophole (Original Post) DURHAM D Sep 2017 OP
Medicare does that now in that they adjust Medicare payments to providers Hoyt Sep 2017 #1
Why should blue States pay more for less? UCmeNdc Sep 2017 #2
 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
1. Medicare does that now in that they adjust Medicare payments to providers
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 01:48 AM
Sep 2017

based upon cost factors in localities. I don't really see that as a big concern, but Tom Price is suspect. Despise that jerk. Plus, HHS would have to publish its formula and there is a lot of opportunity to voice concerns. But who knows with these bastards. Truth is, if they favored red states in distribution, they probably need more funding per person anyway.

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