Cuomo: GOP healthcare plan could be ‘devastating’ for state governments

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is warning that the Republican ObamaCare replacement plan could have negative consequences for state governments.

“Obviously, the consequences for a state like New York could be devastating, depending on what they do,” Cuomo said Tuesday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

“We have three million people who are insured under ObamaCare. What are you going to do with the three million people? Medicaid is a very big piece of our budget.”

Cuomo also pointed to talk of block grants.

“Turning it over to the state. That sounds great,” he said.

{mosads}”The question is, when they block grant it, do they actually transfer the money? You remember the old expression, passing the buck without passing the bucks.”

Cuomo said he understands the political appeal of repealing ObamaCare.
 
“But, you know, be careful what you ask for. And a little bit, I think this is the dog that chases the car. What are they going to do? And you have millions and millions of people who are affected,” he said. 

“I just did my budget. I said, look, I don’t have a contingency plan. Because I don’t know what they are going to do. And frankly, they could take an action for which there is no contingency plan.”

He said there have been rumors that the GOP plan, known as the American Health Care Act, “could cut the state of New York $2 [billion], $3 billion.”

“I can’t make up $2 [billion], $3 billion,” he said. “It would wreak havoc in this state. So it’s their move and I want to see what they come up with.”

The Congressional Budget Office on Monday projected that the number of people without health insurance would grow by 14 million in 2018 under the Republicans’ bill. It estimated that 24 million people would become uninsured by 2026 under the bill, largely due to the proposed changes to Medicaid.

The CBO report finds that some people would choose not to buy coverage because of the repeal of ObamaCare’s individual mandate, which requires people to buy coverage or pay a fine. But the report also finds people would go without coverage because of cuts to Medicaid and a drop in financial assistance under the bill. 

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