The State Health Flexibility Act

Issues: Health

The State Health Flexibility Act, reintroduced by Rep. Todd Rokita in the 113th Congress on February 5, 2013, would transform Medicaid into a sustainable, efficient, and state-managed health care program for the poor, as it was originally designed.

In addition to the improvements of service for those that depend on Medicaid, the State Health Flexibility Act would cost $2 trillion less than Medicaid as it appears today, under Obamacare.

In the 113th Congress

National and Local Coverage:

Rep. Rokita Talks to Dennis Miller Radio About State Health Flexibility Act (links to YouTube audio Clip)

Rep. Rokita Talks to The Dana Show's Dana Loesch About State Health Flexibility Act (links to YouTube audio clip)

Rep. Rokita Talks to Larry Kudlow About State Health Flexibility Act (links to Podcast)

Editorial and Stakeholder Support:

National Taxpayers Union Writes in Support of State Health Flexibility Act

Boston Herald Op-Ed: Former NY Lt. Gov Betsy McCaughey Calls for Federal Cap on Medicaid Spending

Mercatus Center at George Mason University - Distinguishing between Medicaid Expenditures and Health Outcomes

In the 112th Congress

Rep. Rokita introduced the State Health Flexibility Act in the 112th Congress in 2012. 

The House Budget Committee, of which Rep. Rokita is a member, released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Path to Prosperity budget in 2012.  The full House then passed the bill, which included many elements of the State Health Flexibility Act, notably block granting Medicaid to states and combining the administrative costs of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP).

Below is coverage that the legislation garnered in the 112th Congress.

Hot Off the Press – Rep. Rokita’s Op-Eds in support of the State Health Flexibility Act:

-Human Events –  Congress needs to block-grant Medicaid to states

-Hoosier Access - The Path to Prosperity Lowers Costs of Medicaid, Empowers States to Improve Services

National and Local Coverage:

-Congressional Quarterly – House GOP Revisits Ryan Medicaid Block Grant Idea

-The Daily Caller – Lawmakers push to give states more power in health care

-National Journal – Tea Party Republicans Want to Overhaul Medicaid

-Conservative Outlook – RSC Members Introduce the State Health Flexibility Act

-Heartlander.org - Top Priority After Obamacare: Fix Medicaid

-Greencastle Banner Graphic

-WLFI TV Lafayette – Rokita promotes new health care bill

Editorial Support:

- Washington Times’ Emily Miller – Ending Medicaid’s Washington Tour

-The Washington Examiner – Letting states run Medicaid is the best way to reform it

-American Thinker – Susan Carleson of the Carleson Center for Public Policy: Securing the Safety Net

-American Action Forum – The Health Care Bill You Haven’t Heard About

-CATO Institute’s Dan Mitchell – The Return of Much Needed Health Care Reform

-For America’s David Bozzell – Sensible Health Reforms

-George Mason University’s Mercatus Center – Federal Medicaid Proposal Could Help State Budgets

-Wall Street Journal - Providential Design

-Forbes contributor Sally Pipes - Block Grants to States Give Medicaid New Hope

-Washington Times' Grace-Marie Turner: What's next? Step One After Obamacare

-American Thinker - Susan Carleson: The Reagan Remedy for Medicaid

Stakeholder Support:

American Legislative Exchange Council

Americans for Prosperity

Association of American Physicians and Surgeons

Americans for Tax Reform

Carleson Center for Public Policy

Citizens Against Government Waste

Commonwealth Foundation

FreedomWorks

Heritage Action for America

Illinois Policy Institute

Independent Women's Voice

Let Freedom Ring

National Tax-Limitation Committee

National Taxpayers Union

Surgery Center of Oklahoma