A GOP Health Policy Expert Defends Cutting Medicaid — and Names the Next Health Care Target

Brian Blase runs a health policy shop called Paragon Health Institute, and he has become a trusted adviser to Republicans in Congress. The party passed sweeping changes to federal funding for health care last year, and Blase supported the policies that made those changes possible. Now the Medicaid program is expected to pay out some $1 trillion less than projected over the coming decade.

The cuts were used to offset the cost of tax cuts. A preliminary estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says about 7 million people will lose Medicaid coverage as a result. Health providers are scrambling and rethinking how they offer care.

Blase’s Role

Blase is president of Paragon Health Institute. His work has earned him a seat at the table with Republican lawmakers. He supported the policies that made the Medicaid funding changes possible. His role has not been publicly disclosed beyond this.

The Medicaid Cuts

The Medicaid program is expected to pay out some $1 trillion less than projected over the coming decade. The cuts were part of a package that included tax cuts. The trade-off was simple: cut Medicaid funding to pay for the tax cuts.

The Congressional Budget Office Estimate

The Congressional Budget Office released a preliminary estimate of the impact of the Medicaid cuts. The estimate finds that about 7 million people will lose Medicaid coverage.

The estimate is nonpartisan. It is the best available measure of the impact of the Medicaid cuts.

Health Providers Are Scrambling

The cuts are causing health providers to scramble and rethinking how they offer care. Providers are having to adjust their operations to cope with the reduced funding. The scramble is happening now, not in the future. Providers are not waiting for the cuts to take effect.

Key Facts Box

• Medicaid cuts: $1 trillion less projected payout over the coming decade
• People losing coverage: 7 million, per preliminary estimate from the Congressional Budget Office
• Policy adviser: Brian Blase, president of Paragon Health Institute
• Party: Republicans

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The estimate is the best available measure of the impact of the Medicaid cuts.

A Direct Consequence

The estimate from the Congressional Budget Office is a preliminary figure, which means it is subject to revision as more data comes in. It is the best available measure of the impact of the Medicaid cuts.

Source material: “STAT+: Why an influential GOP health policy expert still backs the Medicaid cuts — and which policy target is next,” STAT.

Brian Blase · Congress · coverage cuts · GOP · health policy · Medicaid