Governor Larry Hogan was in Salisbury for a luncheon where he told Delmarva Public Radio that he was frustrated by the plans on Capitol Hill to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
During a luncheon in Salisbury he told Delmarva Public Radio that he had urged the state’s Maryland congressional delegation to seek compromise on reforming the Affordable Care Act.
As for the Senate bill the Maryland Republican said he did not believe that it would serve the interests of the state residents.
He said, “I don’t know whether it’s going to pass so I hate to speculate, but the bill as it currently works is not good for us.”
Hogan made those remarks before the Congressional Budget Office found that the Senate bill would see 22 million people lose their health insurance.
One estimate says an estimated that 476-thousand people would lose their health care cover under the House plan to repeal Obamacare.
Hogan said he was unhappy with Democrats who did not want to change the Affordable Care Act which the Republican said he believed had caused a hike in insurance premiums.
As for his part which controls Capitol Hill, he castigated the Republicans who want to simply repeal the Affordable Care Act.
He said, “They aren’t taking into consideration the burden it would put on states like our where it may cost of billions of dollars and put hundreds of thousands of people out on the streets with no coverage.”
Hogan added that lawmakers must find a common sense solution because the system has to be fixed.
Hogan Addresses Salisbury Luncheon
Virginia Hit by Senate Bill
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - An analysis of the Senate health care bill shows its changes to the way Medicaid is funded would cost Virginia's program at least $1.4 billion over seven years.
The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services released the estimate Monday. It says the Senate bill would cost Virginia almost double what the House version would from 2020 to 2026.
The difference has to do with how cost increases are estimated.
Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe says the measure would "blow a hole in Virginia's budget." Some Republican lawmakers have also expressed concern about the Medicaid changes.
The Senate could vote this week. Then lawmakers will have to resolve the bills' differences.
DMAS initially estimated the House version would cost $1.8 billion but revised that to $708 million after it was amended.
Hogan Speaks at MML
OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) - Gov. Larry Hogan is scheduled to speak at the Maryland Municipal League summer conference.
The governor will deliver remarks Tuesday night in Ocean City and recognize newly elected members of the group's board of directors.
The conference draws hundreds of officials from Maryland's 157 cities and towns to discuss municipal issues.
The theme of this year's conference is inclusiveness.
Officials are exploring topics such as fighting the opioid crisis and data security.
