Democrats Eye ACA Subsidies, Medicaid Cuts After Midterm Wins
NBC News reports that Democrats' midterm election victories could give them leverage to restore expired enhanced ACA tax credits, reverse Medicaid cuts enacted under Trump's tax and spending law, and pursue oversight of Trump administration health policies, though any legislation would require Trump's signature. Health policy experts cited include KFF's Larry Levitt, who says Trump is likely to veto bills rolling back Medicaid cuts, and former Obama adviser Ezekiel Emanuel, who says Democrats could find common ground with Trump on prescription drug pricing. The piece notes Medicaid work requirements are expected to strip coverage from millions due to paperwork burdens, with a federal judge in Boston recently blocking a CMS policy on "medically frail" exemptions and granting states six more months to implement a more lenient version. It also notes ten states, including Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin, have not adopted full Medicaid expansion.