WASHINGTON, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito says she’s waiting to see the specifics in the Senate’s latest rewrite of the health care bill.
Capito, who came out against the first version of the bill, will get a look at the latest version Thursday. She said she plans to initially review the changes, if any, on the Medicaid expansion issue.
“I remain concerned about that and I think that will probably be where I look first when the draft comes out,” Capito said Wednesday on MetroNews “Talkline.” “I’m not hearing anything on that which makes me wonder if any changes have been made.”
Capito is in favor of reforming Medicaid. She said she wants better accountability and wants to give the states more responsibility over the program. There are currently 167,000 West Virginians receiving benefits under Expanded Medicaid created by Obamacare.
“If Medicaid phases out over a long period of time on the expansion part (we want to make sure) that the availability of coverage is there through support and through enhanced opioid coverage and also through support through premiums and deductibles and all of that. So you don’t just fall off the rolls and we’re back where we started. That is the crux of where it needs to go,” Capito said.
She said there also has to be the ability for governors to get control over the cost of coverage through the exchange.
“It’s the coverage aspect but you have coverage that is impossible for you to pay then you’re not covered. You’re not accessing and you’re not covered. That’s where we need to be looking and I’m not sure this bill quite gets us there,” Capito said.
Capito’s other big concern has been funding for treatment for those impacted by the opioid epidemic. She said she understands the new version of the bill could provide West Virginia with as much as $70 million a year.
“That’s good news,” Capito said.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has announced the draft would be released Thursday while the Congressional Budget Office will come out with the score of the plan next Monday.