Before Senate Republicans unveiled their revised healthcare bill Thursday, former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius criticized the GOP’s proposal, calling it an “assault” on the poorest Americans and a “moral outrage.”
In particular, Sebelius, who resigned as HHS secretary in 2014 after the shaky rollout of healthcare.gov, focused her ire on the proposed changes to Medicaid.
“We have 11,000 people a day turning 65, we’re going to have more people in nursing homes, more people needing home healthcare so they can remain independent, more poor seniors than we have today,” said Sebelius, speaking Thursday morning on an episode of the Center for American Progress’ “Thinking CAP” podcast. “I think it is absolutely an assault on the lowest-income individuals, the most vulnerable individuals, and the notion that governors have flexibility. Flexibility to do what?”
Under the initial draft of the GOP bill, Medicaid expansion would be rolled back in states that expanded it to low-income residents under Obamacare. It would, over the long term, allow states to choose between receiving a fixed amount of federal dollars from Medicaid as a per-capita cap or a block grant. The new GOP bill keeps these changes in place.
The Republican leadership has yet to secure enough votes, though their latest draft includes changes aimed at luring more support. However, two GOP senators already oppose a motion to proceed on the bill.
