Key Republican centrist Sen. Susan Collins said Thursday she will vote against a motion to proceed to the debate on a GOP healthcare reform bill because it includes cuts to the growth rate of Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion.
The Maine Republican said, however, she is not giving up on the measure and will work with GOP leaders to make changes.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he will bring the measure to the floor for a vote next week.
“Still deep cuts to Medicaid in Senate bill,” Collins said on Twitter. “Will vote no on MTP. Ready to work w/ GOP & Dem colleagues to fix flaws in ACA.”
The new version of the Republican plan to repeal and replace portions of Obamacare, released Thursday, leaves in place changes to Medicaid that centrists have been concerned about. It also keeps taxes on high-income earners, pumps more money into opioid treatment and insurance markets, and allows customers to use subsidies toward the purchase of less expensive plans that cover fewer medical services.
