Kasich urges that Americans not be cut off from health care coverage

SANDUSKY — Gov. John Kasich has written a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Senate with six other governors, urging that Americans who were helped by Obamacare not be left behind in the Republican health care plan working its way through Congress.The American Health Care Act, the measure approved by the Republican-dominated U.S. House, falls short of what is needed, says the June 16 letter, sent to Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, and Charles Schumer, the minority leader."It calls into question coverage for the vulnerable and fails to provide the necessary resources to ensure that no one is left out, while shifting significant costs to the states," the seven governors wrote. "Medicaid provisions included in this bill are particularly problematic."Kasich's office released a copy of the letter to the Register. The letter was co-signed by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat; Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat; Massachusetts Gov. Charles D. Baker, a Republican; Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, a Republican; Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat.The letter say that the best approach to reforming health care is to find bipartisan common ground."We believe that, first and foremost, Congress should focus on improving our nation's private health insurance system. Improvements should be based on a set of guiding principles, included below, which include controlling costs and stabilizing the market, that will positively impact the coverage and care of millions of Americans, including many who are dealing with mental illness, chronic health problems, and drug addiction," the letter says.The Register asked Kasich's spokeswoman, Emmalee Kalmbach, about news reports that Republicans in the Senate might seek to phase out the expansion of Medicaid over a seven year period."Gov. Kasich doesn't support the expansion phase out, however, he would support the enhanced match phase out with the resources and the flexibility that are needed so people don't get left behind," she replied.She pointed to a comment Kasich made to the New York Times. The governor said, "I don't have a problem with phasing down the enhanced federal payments. But it can't be done overnight, and it has to be done with the resources and the flexibility that are needed so people don't get left behind. You just can't be cutting off coverage for people."Republicans in the U.S. Senate have been working on a health reform bill, but few details have been released yet.Among other provisions, the House measure would cut funding for Medicaid and end the expansion of the program. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that 23 million Americans would lose health care coverage by 2026 under provisions of the House bill.Last week, U.S. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said he is concerned that the eventual Senate GOP bill will slash Medicaid and reduce the number of people on the program. U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, declined an interview request from the Register and has said little about the health care bill in recent days.Reach reporter Tom Jackson at jackson@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @jacksontom.Gov. John Kasich gives the State of the State Address on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at the Sandusky State Theatre.