Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away? What about a piece of apple pie? 🍎🥧 Something tells us that new hard cider doesn’t count. 🤪
Trump recently nominated Dr. Mehmet Oz to head up the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 🩺 His tapping of the TV doc has us wondering what impacts it would have on federal health programs like Medicare and Medicaid. We’ve got the scoop!
Here’s Five Fast Facts on potential U.S. healthcare changes:
- 🧑⚕️ Off To See the Wizard - If Oz gets the CMS job, he would be in charge of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These programs serve over 145 million Americans.
- 📋 Wish List - Dr. Oz is a supporter of a private alternative to Medicare, known as Medicare Advantage. The alternative would still follow government guidelines, but would be run by private insurers. Oz has also suggested the program could cover all Americans not covered by Medicaid and be funded through a payroll tax.
- 🤑 Private Matter - Those in favor of Oz’s plan say that private plans may cost lower and benefit from improved services, thanks to a competitive environment. Those who say nay worry that funding from private insurers could jack up expenses and lead to reduced access to specialized care.
- 💰 Funding Flip - While Dr. Oz himself hasn’t dropped specific plans for Medicaid, some Republican lawmakers shared their ideas. In one scenario, states would get fixed funding through block grants, replacing the current federal matching funds. Supporters of this say states would gain more flexibility, but those against it say it could lead to funding problems in an economic downturn. Low-income populations would be hit the hardest.
- 👷🏽♂️ You Betta Work - Another idea floating around is putting work requirements in place to be eligible for Medicaid. Those in favor of this proposal say the requirements would boost employment. Opponents say the requirements would create too much red tape and reduce enrollment in benefits.
🔥Bottom line: Nothing’s set in stone yet, but it’s good to know what could happen! Now, if we could only get Dr. Phil a job in the cabinet. A resident shrink on team Trump might be exactly what the doctor ordered. Hey, what’s the deal with all those electric vehicle subsidies? Find out who they really benefit here.
What do you think of the proposed changes?
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