Stop me if you've heard this before
Another day, another story about how the Trump Administration’s efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act is having a tangible impact on American’s access to affordable health care. Today’s example comes from the New York Times:
“Michigan Consumers for Health Care, a nonprofit group, has enrolled thousands of people in health insurance under the Affordable Care Act and was honored last year as one of the nation’s top performers — a ‘super navigator’ that would serve as a mentor to enrollment counselors in other states.”
“So the group was stunned to learn from the Trump administration that its funds for assisting consumers ahead of the open enrollment period that begins Nov. 1 would be cut by 89 percent, to $129,900, from $1.2 million.”
“The administration had justified such reductions by saying that the groups were failing to meet their targets, and that the deepest cuts would be reserved for low-performing insurance counselors, known as navigators. But that does not appear to be so.”
“…the federal spending cuts have begun to bite, and navigators around the country are racing to revise their plans to make do with less money.”
“All told, the Trump administration has reduced funds for the navigator program by 41 percent, to $36.9 million, from $62.9 million last year. Among the states hit the hardest, according to data provided to Congress by the administration, are Georgia, down 61 percent; Michigan, down 72 percent; New Jersey, down 62 percent; and Ohio, down 71 percent.”
“Mr. Trump has stoked uncertainty, saying he would ‘let Obamacare fail’ and threatening to cut off certain subsidies paid to insurers for low-income people.”
“In Wyoming, the largest navigator group, run by the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, is trying to figure out how to cope with a 61 percent cut, which reduced its federal funds to $166,600, from $427,300.”
“‘The government claims this funding is tied to performance measures,’ said Suzanna de Baca, the president of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. ‘But we met or exceeded nearly all our goals, so a cut of more than 80 percent appears to be completely arbitrary.’”
“In Georgia, the federal grant for the largest navigator organization, run by Community Health Works,has been cut by 86 percent, to $329,000, from $2.3 million.”
“But the magnitude of the federal funding cuts means that it will be difficult, perhaps impossible, to make up through private contributions, with so little time remaining before open enrollment begins.”
“The Utah organization has reduced the number of navigators by half, to eight from 16, and plans to focus its efforts on the Salt Lake City area. ‘We will not be providing as much assistance to rural counties in southern Utah,’ Mr. Slonaker said.”
“He compared his situation to that of a school that is required to teach the same material to the same number of students with only half as many teachers.”
“So the group was stunned to learn from the Trump administration that its funds for assisting consumers ahead of the open enrollment period that begins Nov. 1 would be cut by 89 percent, to $129,900, from $1.2 million.”
“The administration had justified such reductions by saying that the groups were failing to meet their targets, and that the deepest cuts would be reserved for low-performing insurance counselors, known as navigators. But that does not appear to be so.”
“…the federal spending cuts have begun to bite, and navigators around the country are racing to revise their plans to make do with less money.”
“All told, the Trump administration has reduced funds for the navigator program by 41 percent, to $36.9 million, from $62.9 million last year. Among the states hit the hardest, according to data provided to Congress by the administration, are Georgia, down 61 percent; Michigan, down 72 percent; New Jersey, down 62 percent; and Ohio, down 71 percent.”
“Mr. Trump has stoked uncertainty, saying he would ‘let Obamacare fail’ and threatening to cut off certain subsidies paid to insurers for low-income people.”
“In Wyoming, the largest navigator group, run by the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, is trying to figure out how to cope with a 61 percent cut, which reduced its federal funds to $166,600, from $427,300.”
“‘The government claims this funding is tied to performance measures,’ said Suzanna de Baca, the president of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. ‘But we met or exceeded nearly all our goals, so a cut of more than 80 percent appears to be completely arbitrary.’”
“In Georgia, the federal grant for the largest navigator organization, run by Community Health Works,has been cut by 86 percent, to $329,000, from $2.3 million.”
“But the magnitude of the federal funding cuts means that it will be difficult, perhaps impossible, to make up through private contributions, with so little time remaining before open enrollment begins.”
“The Utah organization has reduced the number of navigators by half, to eight from 16, and plans to focus its efforts on the Salt Lake City area. ‘We will not be providing as much assistance to rural counties in southern Utah,’ Mr. Slonaker said.”
“He compared his situation to that of a school that is required to teach the same material to the same number of students with only half as many teachers.”