The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) recently released an issue brief highlighting what a Medicaid per capita cap could mean for people with Medicare who have low incomes. Through the American Health Care Act, some policymakers propose capping what the federal government pays for Medicaid benefits—effectively undermining the program’s basic promise and guarantee.

KFF sums up the impact of a Medicaid per capita cap for low-income people with Medicare with the following key points:

• Medicaid is now jointly financed as an open-ended shared responsibility between the federal and state governments; the American Health Care Act proposes a major change in financing with a per capita cap
• The shift to per capita caps would limit federal Medicaid contributions – a change that is likely to have fiscal implications for states and enrollees, including 11 million people with both Medicare and Medicaid
• The impact on any given state will depend on a number of factors, including the growth in the share of its 85+ (highest cost) population
• States with costs that exceed the cap for their senior or disabled enrollees would need to find other revenues to maintain coverage, or reduce costs

Source: Kaiser Family FoundationThe effects of a per capita cap would vary depending on the circumstances in a particular state, but experts warn of an array of negative consequences. Last week, Medicare Rights attended an event hosted by the National Coalition on Health Care, on this issue. During the event, Cindi B. Jones, Director of Department of Medical Assistance Services of the Commonwealth of Virginia, expressed concern that the state of Virginia would lose $22 million the first year of proposed caps and $700 million over 10 years. Jones pointed out that states have only three ways to save money and prevent Medicaid losses: cut provider payment rates, cut services covered, or cut eligibility—making it more difficult for low-income people to enroll.

Read the issue brief.