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06/22/2017: It’s no secret — the Senate bill won’t make health care cheaper
Jun 22, 2017

06/22/2017: It’s no secret — the Senate bill won’t make health care cheaper

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At long last, Senate Republicans have revealed their health care bill. It was hatched in secret, and they hope to vote on it in a week so let's dig in. It's similar to the plan passed by the House: Sharp and sweeping cuts to Medicaid, more power to states to decide what insurance plans have to cover, shrinking the Obamacare subsidies. Here's what it won't do: make health care cheaper. We'll talk about why, then head to Arkansas, where a plan to roll back Medicaid expansion will put tens of thousands back on the exchanges, if they can afford it. Plus: An interview with the executive director of Covered California, the state's Obamacare exchange.

Segments From this episode

What national monument status means for one vast Montana landscape

Jun 22, 2017
The Upper Missouri River Breaks includes Native American sites, Old West settlements and tens of thousands of acres of privately owned land.
Rancher Matt Knox on his family land near Winifred, Montana. Knox is part of Missouri River Stewards, a group which wants the Trump Administration to reduce the size of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument and prevent further regulations on farms and ranches.
Dan Boyce

Republican Arkansas looks to cut its once-expanded Medicaid rolls

Jun 22, 2017
With the future of the Affordable Care Act uncertain, some states anticipate greater reductions by Congress.
Eddie Pannell is the retiring executive director at Harmony Health Clinic. He thinks many patients who left the free clinic after the passage of the Affordable Care Act will return if Congress cuts Medicaid.
Sarah Whites-Koditschek /Marketplace

What it's like running a state health care exchange right now

Jun 22, 2017
'There's a huge amount of froth and churn that we're trying to navigate,' says Covered California's executive director.
“All health coverage is not created equal," says Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee. "A key question we all need to look at is: Are we going back to the days of skimpy benefits?”
Max Whittaker/Getty Images

Democratic leaders try to formulate a sound economic message

Jun 22, 2017
Democrats are having a hard time crafting an economic message that gets through to voters. They lost two special congressional elections earlier this week. Some Democrats say being the anti-Trump party is a weak platform on which to take a stand and reach Americans who feel their concerns and needs are not being met. What […]

Qatar Airways’ plan to invest in American Airlines seen as a bid to undercut criticism

Jun 22, 2017
Qatar Airways, the national airline of that embattled Persian Gulf nation, plans to invest about $808 million in American Airlines. This is an unsolicited investment — a purchase of voting shares on the open market. This comes as U.S. airlines, including American, have criticized Qatar Airways and two carriers based in the United Arab Emirates […]

Banker to Hollywood elites branches out to South LA

Jun 22, 2017
It's part of City National's commitment to the Community Reinvestment Act.
City National Bank’s 30 local branches are found mostly in high-end enclaves like Brentwood and Bel-Air.
Aaron Schrank/Marketplace

At long last, Senate Republicans have revealed their health care bill. It was hatched in secret, and they hope to vote on it in a week so let’s dig in. It’s similar to the plan passed by the House: Sharp and sweeping cuts to Medicaid, more power to states to decide what insurance plans have to cover, shrinking the Obamacare subsidies. Here’s what it won’t do: make health care cheaper. We’ll talk about why, then head to Arkansas, where a plan to roll back Medicaid expansion will put tens of thousands back on the exchanges, if they can afford it. Plus: An interview with the executive director of Covered California, the state’s Obamacare exchange.

Music from the episode

Hey Ma Cam’ron, Juelz Santana, Freekey Zeekey, Toya
Can I Kick It? A Tribe Called Quest
Fever The Black Keys
Bulletproof La Roux