Repeal of Obamacare could be 'devastating' for R.I., governor says

PROVIDENCE - The $130 million in federal matching funds Rhode Island plans to deploy over the next five years to revamp its insurance program for the poor would likely dry up under the changes laid out by President-elect Donald Trump, federal health officials said Tuesday.

In his campaign manifesto, Trump said Congress must repeal the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, and give each state a lump sum of federal money - a block grant - for Medicaid.

"The state and federal partnership to invest will not be possible under a block grant," Kathryn E. Martin, acting assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, said during a media conference call about a new report about the ACA's impact on states. "It could jeopardize some of the most innovative things states are doing" to bring down costs and improve health outcomes.

Gov. Gina Raimondo said Tuesday during a meeting at The Providence Journal that she "loses sleep" over the prospect of a hasty unrolling of the Affordable Care Act and its Medicaid payment system. "It could be devastating for us," she said.

Read more: http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20161213/repeal-of-obamacare-could-be-devastating-for-ri-governor-says