Trending News Today: Bipartisan Healthcare Legislation Could Fix ACA Pitfalls

Many Medicaid beneficiaries rely on help from the program to avoid entering a nursing home due to health problems. Home-based care services allow beneficiaries to live at home as long as possible and saves Medicaid two-thirds of the cost of a nursing home, according to Kaiser Health News. While states can choose to offer in-home services, nursing home care is a requirement. Currently, GOP lawmakers are seeking to make significant cuts to Medicaid funding, which could result in a loss of optional in-home services, according to the article.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump said that payments to insurers would end if a healthcare reform bill is not passed, Reuters reported. The President’s tweet was the result of failed GOP efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on Friday. The tweet is likely referencing the nearly $8 billion in subsidies paid to insurance companies by the government, according to the article. These subsides reduce out-of-pocket costs for lower-income individuals.

Today, a coalition of 40 House Republicans and Democrats plan to reveal legislation that will fix the ACA and stabilize the marketplace, according to Politico. The new plan focuses on creating new mandates and alterations to the ACA that have previously received support from both parties. The proposal includes funding for subsidies, changes to the employer mandate, and the development of a federal stability fund, according to the article.