January 16, 2017      5:01 PM

Abbott letter to Congressional leaders fails to extend block grant concept

Experts in the field call Abbott’s letter ideological, rhetorical fluff with little basis in policy or reality for how those decisions will affect patients and those who serve them

Editor’s note: A copy of Abbott’s letter is available to our subscribers at the end of this story – SB

Gov. Greg Abbott has offered his advice to Congressional leaders on the future of Obamacare, and it doesn’t vary a lot from then-Rep. Lois Kolkhorst’s, R-Brenham, floor speech five years ago touting the flexibility and superiority of state block grants.

Abbott, in a letter to Congressional leadership dated January 10, insisted Texas was hamstrung by federal regulations, leaving the state to deal with ballooning costs.

“I encourage you and your colleagues to consider transitioning the Medicaid program to a block grant program. The block grants should ensure states retain maximum flexibility in designing their own program and provide some mechanism to account for fluctuations in population growth, the economy and the rising cost of health care,” Abbott said. “Those components are necessary to a sustainable Medicaid program that produces greater health outcomes and protects taxpayers.”

The letter has not been met with much enthusiasm by a number of health care lobbyists.

By Kimberly Reeves

Copyright January 16, 2017, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved