The meeting comes less than a week after Portman and three other GOP senators sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saying they worry the Feb. 10 draft of the bill did not do enough to protect those in Medicaid expansion programs or provide the necessary flexibility for the states. Portman has since said that the version released on Monday is an improvement, though some of his concerns remain.
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It also comes in the midst of what has been described as a “full-court press” from the Trump administration regarding the new GOP plan, which the House has begun moving.
Portman, R-Ohio, supports repealing and replacing the 2010 Affordable Care Act, but does not want to see a reduction in access to health services. In particular, he’s concerned about the state’s opioid addiction problem; Medicaid is the largest payer of mental health and substance use services in the United States, and he wants to make sure that those who are using those services do not lose them.
Pleasure to sit down with my friend @SenRobPortman this morning to talk about improving health care for all Americans. pic.twitter.com/nrOlYUryf7
— Vice President Pence (@VP) March 9, 2017
“We believe Medicaid needs to be reformed, but reform should not come at the cost of disruption in access to health care for our country’s most vulnerable and sickest individuals,” he and the other GOP senators wrote. “Any changes made to how Medicaid is financed through the state and federal governments should be coupled with significant new flexibility so they can efficiently and effectively manage their Medicaid programs to best meet their own needs.”
In a statement after today's meeting, Portman said he, Pence and Price “share the goal of repealing and replacing Obamacare with a better plan that will lower health care costs for all Americans.”
“As I have said before, I support making structural improvements to the Medicaid program, but we must provide stability and certainty for individuals and families in Medicaid expansion programs and real flexibility for states,” he said. “I will continue to work with the administration and my colleagues to address these concerns.”
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