Increased federal investments in the Medicaid program has helped drive down the nation’s uninsured rate to record lows, and ensured that millions of people with low-to-moderate incomes can access the health care they need without going broke. But conservative groups are targeting the programs for cuts if Republicans take the reins in Washington next year. Axios’ Maya Goldman explains ideas from influential conservative groups to decrease spending and, consequently, reduce health coverage:
Still, conservative groups from the Republican Study Committee to the Paragon Health Institute to the Heritage Foundation want to turn Medicaid into block grants, impose work requirements or reduce the federal share of program costs for states where coverage has been extended. … The changes would save the federal government between about $252 billion and $530 billion over eight years, depending on how states respond. But states’ costs would increase by at least $110 billion over that time — likely forcing some to pare benefits or enrollment.
Farm bill fiasco
There are growing concerns that Congress will adjourn for the year without passing a farm bill – the multi-year law that authorizes funding and sets the rules for federal agriculture and food programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The only proposed legislation stems from the Republican-majority House Committee on Agriculture. The Senate does not currently have a farm bill proposal. A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities explains how the lower chamber’s bill would cause a $30 billion SNAP cut.
The roughly $30 billion SNAP cut comes from the bill’s limitation on the Agriculture Department’s (USDA) authority to adjust the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) to accurately reflect the cost of a realistic, healthy diet. … Starting in 2027, the proposed limitation would cut SNAP benefits for 40 million people, including 17 million children, 6 million older adults, and 4 million people with disabilities in a typical month, based on CBO’s estimates.
Turning teacher recommendations into policies
Louisiana Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley is turning recommendations from a teacher advisory panel into concrete policies. The “Let Teachers Teach” group proposed ways to make educators’ jobs easier, including reducing workloads and increasing discipline for student misbehavior. The Times Picayune | Baton Rouge Advocate’s Elyse Carmosino reports:
The suggested included placing “ungovernable” students at alternative sites instead of sending them back to class, giving highly rated teachers more freedom over their instructional time and exempting teachers from required trainings if they pass a pre-test. Brumley said one proposed policy would streamline dozens of non-academic trainings and lessons teachers must repeat each year for topics such as classroom training and conflict resolution training.
The recommendations to ease discipline, instruction and training responsibilities come as state lawmakers failed to provide teachers with a permanent pay raise during the 2024 legislative session.
Don’t dismantle DEI
States across the country, including Louisiana, are moving to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. Jabari Simama, author, consultant and former member of the Atlanta city council, writing in Governing, uses his own experience to explain why leaders should not backpedal on their commitments to becoming more diverse and inclusive.
The investments this country made in me have paid off tenfold. Society is better off having people like me as contributing members, rather than being relegated to a life of scrimping by in dead-end jobs or perhaps being caught up in the criminal justice system, like my brother was and so many others are today. They might have benefited had they received empathy from our elected officials — and a little more diversity, equity and inclusion.
Number of the Day
16% – Percentage of Louisiana women of reproductive age who skipped needed medical care because of cost, compared to 27% in Texas. Louisiana has expanded Medicaid to low-income individuals, while Texas has not. (Source: The Commonwealth Fund)