GOP governors push for Medicaid changes

Republican governors endorsed transforming Medicaid into a block-grant program with funding caps and urged repeal of the 2010 healthcare reform law.

The nation's 29 Republican governors wrote (PDF) senior congressional Republicans today in support of Medicaid changes that were included in the House-passed budget bill. Those included changing Medicaid into a series of capped block grants for each state instead of the existing entitlement structure that provides whatever funding is needed to cover all eligible beneficiaries.

“As Congress reviews the Medicaid program, it should provide states and territories a general healthcare framework where we can make necessary adjustments without constantly seeking permission from the federal government for changes that we already know work,” the governors wrote. “Governors must be able to provide quality healthcare for our most vulnerable citizens while containing costs.”

The governors also urged repeal of the federal healthcare law, which “made more difficult” the states' ability to control their rising Medicaid costs.

The governors also repeated their call earlier this year for control over enrollment eligibility for the program. Federal rules generally bar the states from cutting enrollment levels that were raised with the help of one-time federal stimulus funding.