Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFranken destroys Republican talking point on Trumpcare using science
https://thinkprogress.org/franken-republican-talking-point-841f387ddc09Judd Legum
Editor-In-Chief, ThinkProgress
Jun 26
Franken destroys Republican talking point on Trumpcare using science
Cutting through the spin in 72 seconds.
The Senate version of Trumpcare makes devastating cuts to the Medicaid program for low-income Americans. Many Republican supporters of the bill are responding to this issue by simply denying the cuts exist.
A more intellectually honest argument is advanced by Avik Roy, a conservative health care expert, in the Washington Post. In an editorial published Monday, Roy acknowledges Medicaid is cut, but argues that having Medicaid coverage is no better than being uninsured.
snip//
Monday morning on MSNBC, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) countered Roys argument. He noted that the tax cuts that Trumpcare would deliver to the richest 400 taxpayers would pay for 750,000 people to be on Medicaid. Franken didnt rely on a single study but cited the more comprehensive analysis of recent research on Medicaid published in NEJM. These researchers found that for every 750,000 people who lose Medicaid coverage, 1,000 to 2,000 people would die.
Franken actually understates the case. The NEJM cited a recent study estimating that Medicaid expansion has saved one life for every 239 to 319 people covered. That means enrolling 750,000 people in Medicaid could actually save 2,300 to 3,100 lives.
This also makes intuitive sense. When people have life-threatening illnesses, they need treatment and Medicaid gives them access to treatment. Without insurance, underlying health issues go untreated and can eventually be fatal.
There are also other benefits to health coverage besides avoiding death. It can, and does, improve quality of life. In fact, the same Oregon study that Roy uses to prove Medicaid is worthless did report improvements in a variety of health outcomes that impact peoples quality of life.
The Oregon study found significantly improved outcomes on a variety of issues depression, self-reported health, decrease in pain that are themselves predictive of reduced mortality over a 5- to 10-year period.
Roys argument also assumes that those who are kicked off of Medicaid would be able to afford coverage under the Trumpcare exchanges. This population, however, is near the poverty line. Although some may be able to pay a small premium, Trumpcare only requires insurance coverage to pay for 58 percent of costs. That means very low-income Americans, who currently are covered under Medicaid, would be expected to pay thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs money they do not have.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
1 replies, 1785 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (7)
ReplyReply to this post
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Franken destroys Republican talking point on Trumpcare using science (Original Post)
babylonsister
Jun 2017
OP
I've seen Roy being interviewed a couple of times over the last week and it needed someone
OnDoutside
Jun 2017
#1
OnDoutside
(19,962 posts)1. I've seen Roy being interviewed a couple of times over the last week and it needed someone
who knew healthcare to catch him out on his bullshit. Unfortunately, none of the interviewers had the grasp of the numbers to trouble him.
Another Rep asshole is Lanhee Chen, who has been an effective bullshitter for them, over the last week or so.