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March 07, 2017 03:49 PM UTC

Coffman Pumps Health Care Bill, Reads Text Later

  • 15 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols
Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Aurora) puts the cart before the horse.

Republicans will have to pass a healthcare bill in order to find out what it says. This has been a popular joke around Capitol Hill recently, and like any good yarn, it is one that has its roots in reality.

According to a Tweet from Rep. Mike Coffman’s office this afternoon, the Aurora Republican was hunkered down at his desk reading the new House Republican bill to repeal destroy Obamacare. But just this morning, as Coffman’s office also Tweeted, the Congressman went on “The Ross Kaminsky Show” on 630AM to offer his full-throated support of legislation that he may not have even read yet.

In a healthcare-centric interview, Coffman tells Kaminsky that the legislation represents a “massive reform” to Medicaid, promising to end the program altogether in four years (Coffman cites “political reasons” for not trying to end Medicaid sooner). Says Coffman:

“It actually goes much further than the Affordable Care Act.  This is a major entitlement reform.  It is a major reform to the entire Medicaid system.  And I think that that has not been part of the discussion..

…”As long as enough republicans stay together, we can get this passed and on the President’s desk.”

Coffman is apparently all-in on the House legislation, which has received public support from President Trump. Coffman’s endorsement of cutting Medicaid, however, doesn’t square with what Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) said on Monday, when he said he couldn’t support healthcare legislation that did not protect Medicaid.

Check out the Big Media Blog for more from Coffman’s interview this morning.

Comments

15 thoughts on “Coffman Pumps Health Care Bill, Reads Text Later

  1. From early reviews it looks like the Health Insurance Corporations are going to get a big sloppy kiss from Trumpcare.  Can you say Death Panels base on profit margin?

    1. They DonTcare. They don't have to.  Or so they think. It does seem that Gardner is finally getting the message that he will at least have to pretend to care. Coffman apparently hasn't gotten that memo yet.

      1. Republicans don't believe that anyone is looking and they can take healthcare away from the poor and not pay any consequences.  Coffman must believes he is invincible having beaten everyone the Dems have run against him.  Hopefully there is some truth that pride goth before the fall.

    2. Can you say Death Panels base on profit margin?

      That’s what they’ve been doing for 30 years or more. It started with HMOs and other “managed care” plans. They’ve just become more open about it, though the gaslit ones think it’s the gummint doing it.

      My late mother worked for many years in my father’s office (he is a physician in private practice, semi-retired now; he had his practice in Lakewood) and spent the majority of her days wrangling with insurance companies over payments for services rendered. I’m wondering if the stress didn’t contribute to her health problems and ultimately to her death.

    3. I dunno … several health insurance companies were not complimentary to the leaked draft. Reaction to the "real" plan has been muted. About the most direct comment I could find is

      "The BlueCross BlueShield Association, which represents BCBS insurers across the country that cover the vast majority of the about 10 million people enrolled in 2017 Obamacare plans, said the insurers were glad to see the extension of many Obamacare aspects into 2019. But it emphasized the need for the replacement to be affordable. "

      So, I think it will depend on how generous the tax credit scheme will be and how certain they are that it will be enough to attract a diverse group to the market.

  2. One of the greatest threats to the well being of the people of the United States is the profits of the health insurance industry. Actuaries don't have the health of their companies clients in mind when they establish rates. Risk managers and exposure specialists exist in giant corporations to protect the profit margin, not to provide better health care to customers. Raising premiums good, paying claims bad…a simple equation.

    The "Free Market Experiment" is now fully engaged in the United States. Its success depends upon the ability of the Republicans to finally and fully cripple our government and effectively recreate the "Russian" model. Her protestations notwithstanding, Marine LePen is trying to do the same in France. It is part of a growing trend toward nationalism and confrontation between nations as the realignment of power continues as giant corporate interests further outweigh those of nations.

    Amirite, Rex?

      1. “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy."

        That was her exact quote. Seems to me you should know what's in a bill before it's passed, especially landmark legislation. The article linked simply attempts to put a spin on what she said.

        The same standard of knowing whats in a bill before its voted on it applies to Coffman or any other legislator.

  3. This should be the headline in tomorrow's papers:

    Coffman Supports Republican Healthcare Bill – Agrees to Deny Insurance to Those with Preexisting Conditions 

    The Republican replacement bill has a huge flaw regarding preexisting conditions. Mr. Ryan and other Republican supporters emphatically say their bill requires insurance companies to insure people who have preexisting medical/health conditions just like Obamacare. But, is that really true? I don't think so. 

    Many people with preexisting conditions have a difficult time maintaining a job because of their condition or work part time because of it. For those people, health insurance is a huge cost. There will be times when they can't afford health insurance. If such circumstances arise and their insurance lapses, they will be required to pay a 30% premium penalty to the insurance company to become insured.

    Exacerbating this problem is the question of 30% of what amount? Since Mr. Ryan's plan allows insurance companies to charge older Americans (the age group most likely to have preexisting conditions)  5 times as much as young Americans (only 3 times under Obamacare), as well as significantly increasing the out-of-pocket premiums, that 30% will be an insurmountable cost for many people. They won't be able to afford health insurance. Under those circumstances, many people with preexisting conditions won't be able to pay the penalty plus the monthly premiums and will just have to suffer.  

    Get ready America, Mr. Coffman and his Republican friends are going to throw our fellow citizens who happen to be economically less fortunate and those with preexisting conditions under the bus. Its impossible to believe they did not know this before the bill was unveiled yesterday.

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