GOP Obamacare Repeal Deal Would Boost Hawaii Medicare and Medicaid

LN: …the so-called “Alaska Purchase” is intended to persuade Senator Lisa Murkowski–long-believed to be a so-called “moderate Republican”–to vote in favor of Graham-Cassidy, the last-ditch chance for Republicans to dismantle the Affordable Care Act this year….  (Link: Full Text Graham-Cassidy)

This draft includes 3 separate provisions benefitting Alaska (and Hawaii).

1. Alaska (along with Hawaii) will continue to receive Obamacare’s premium tax credits while they are repealed for all other states. It appears this exemption will not affect Alaska receiving its state allotment under the new block grant in addition to the premium tax credits.
2. Delays implementation of the Medicaid per capita caps for Alaska and Hawaii for years in which the policy would reduce their funding below what they would have received in 2020 plus CPI-M [Consumer Price Index for Medical Care].
3. Provides for an increased federal Medicaid matching rate (FMAP) for both Alaska and Hawaii.

read … GOP Attempts To Bribe Alaska Senator By Letting Her State Keep Obamacare

Editor’s Note: HI and AK are the only states to receive Sec 1332 Waivers from ACA.  In essence, AK and HI are already as much out of the ACA as their political leadership wanted to be. 

See links:

2016: Hawaii Obamacare waiver could serve as national blueprint

July 2017: Feds OK Alaska Affordable Care Act Waiver Plan -- Hawaii received a waiver earlier

CMS: Sec 1332 Waivers

EMDs: 2017 Chart of Medicare GPCIs