The Build Back Better plan approved in the House and being reviewed in the Senate would "provide $0 ACA premiums to individuals who live in the 12 holdout states that haven’t adopted the ACA’s Medicaid expansion."

Marsha Blackburn's The Blackburn Report dated 11/19/2021

"DEMANDING ANSWERS ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S ATTACK ON STATE MEDICAID PROGRAMS"

"In the Build Back Broke bill, President Biden prioritized billionaires over sick children, people with disabilities, and the poor. The sweeping federal overreach pushed by the Biden administration is a direct attempt to punish states like Tennessee for providing personalized care for vulnerable communities. This week, I sent a letter requesting that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) disclose the impact of President Biden’s agenda on state Medicaid programs in Tennessee, Texas, and Florida."

"Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) joined Senator Blackburn on the letter demanding answers on the Biden administration’s blatant attack on the Medicaid programs in Tennessee, Texas, and Florida."

It is true that the Build Back Better plan proposes that "States that have not expanded their Medicaid program, including any state that chooses to reverse their Medicaid expansion, would face a reduction in their Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) allotment. Beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2023, non-expansion states would be subject to a 12.5% reduction of their DSH allotment."

However, in addition to the expansion of the ACA plan to allow for more participants at a lesser cost in the states that have not expanded Medicaid, "The legislation would extend the expanded eligibility for and value of health insurance marketplace subsidies authorized through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) through 2025.

In addition, "The legislation would establish a new health insurance affordability fund available to all states to provide assistance in reducing health care premiums and out-of-pocket costs through reinsurance programs,"

Also, "Federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding would be made permanent."

These are only some of the health care provisions of the Build Back Better plan.

Don't let Blackburn, Lee, Hagerty, and the conservative media confuse the issue. The State of Tennessee has lost out on approximately $18 billion in Federal funding to expand Medicaid for Tennessee residents who can't afford health care. The Republican political leaders in this state are leading us down a dangerous path that cannot be sustained in the future. We must help others in order to help ourselves.

continued...

Additional resources:
How the House spending bill would expand health care benefits

New Incentive for States to Adopt the ACA Medicaid Expansion: Implications for State Spending

Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions: Interactive Map

Potential Costs and Impact of Health Provisions in the Build Back Better Act