Trump to slash ObamaCare outreach funding
BY <http://thehill.com/author/peter-sullivan> PETER SULLIVAN - 08/31/17 04:31 PM EDT <http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/348763-trump-administration-to-slash-o bamacare-outreach-funding#bottom-story-socials> 69 <mailto:?subject=TheHill.com%3A%20Trump%20to%20slash%20ObamaCare%20outreach% 20funding%20&body=From%20TheHill.com%3A%20%0A%0AThe%20administration%20is%20 slashing%20funding%20from%20%24100%20million%20to%20%2410%20million.%0A%0Aht tp%3A//thehill.com/policy/healthcare/348763-trump-administration-to-slash-ob amacare-outreach-funding> © Getty The Trump administration announced Thursday that it is cutting funding for ObamaCare enrollment outreach. Department of Health and Human Services officials said on a call with reporters that funding for advertising and other outreach for ObamaCare enrollment will be cut from $100 million last year to $10 million this year. A department official argued the administration is seeing "diminishing returns" from ObamaCare spending. The administration will still be spending some money on signing people up for health-care plans under the law, despite its opposition to ObamaCare. Officials also announced they are cutting funding for "navigators," which are outside organizations that help sign people up. Funding will be proportional to how navigators have fared in hitting their enrollment target the previous year. If a group signed up 70 percent of their target, they will get 70 percent of the funding. A Health and Human Services official said this system means navigators will be "held accountable." The reduction in spending on the navigators is a 41 percent cut, down to $36.8 million, HHS said. HHS officials said they are planning to set a goal for the number of people to sign up, as the Obama administration also did, but have not announced it yet. Democrats are accusing the Trump administration of trying to "sabotage" ObamaCare, and are sure to pounce on the outreach cuts as further evidence that the administration is trying to make the law fail. President Trump has said that he wants the law to "implode" to force Democrats to the negotiating table for a replacement. However, his administration has so far not gone all the way to make good on those threats. So far, the administration has not cancelled key ObamaCare payments to insurers known as cost-sharing reductions, and is has not said it will stop enforcing the mandate to have coverage. Insurers have said uncertainty on both fronts is leading to higher premiums, though. The Trump administration is in the somewhat awkward position of overseeing a law that it is vigorously opposed to. EM On the 49th Parallel Thé Mulindwas Communication Group "With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in anarchy" Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi "Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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