September 2017 Preliminary Analysis of Legislation That Would Replace Subsidies for Health Care With Block Grants At the request of the Chairman of the Senate Budget reduced by millions compared with the baseline projec- Committee, the Congressional Budget Office and the tions for each year during the decade, CBO and JCT staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) have estimate. That number could vary widely depending analyzed the direct spending and revenue effects of leg- on how states implemented the legislation, although islation sponsored by Senators Graham, Cassidy, Heller, the direction of the effect is clear. The reduction in the and Johnson that would replace certain federal subsidies number of insured people relative to the number under for health care with block grants to states. Specifically, current law would result from three main causes. First, the agencies analyzed H.R. 1628, an amendment in enrollment in Medicaid would be substantially lower the nature of a substitute [LYN17744], posted on because of large reductions in federal funding for that ­ eptember 25, 2017, on Senator Cassidy’s website.1 S program. Second, enrollment in nongroup coverage would be lower because of reductions in subsidies for it. In the short time available, rather than provide the point Third, enrollment in all types of health insurance would estimates that are typical in such analyses, the agencies be lower because penalties for not having insurance have been able to assess only whether any reductions in would be repealed. Those losses in coverage would be the deficit stemming from the legislation as a whole (and partly offset by enrollment in new programs established from its two titles individually) would exceed certain by states using the block grants and by somewhat higher thresholds and to qualitatively assess its effects on health enrollment in employment-based insurance. Many of insurance coverage and market stability. the new programs would probably cover people with characteristics similar to those of people made eligible for Over the 2017–2026 period, CBO and JCT estimate, Medicaid by the ACA. the legislation would reduce the on-budget deficit by at least $133 billion, the projected savings from the House- The decrease in the number of insured people would passed reconciliation bill. (The effects on the deficit were be particularly large starting in 2020, when the legisla- estimated relative to CBO’s March 2016 baseline, as has tion would make major changes to federal funding for been done for all legislation related to the 2017 budget Medicaid and the nongroup market. CBO and JCT resolution.) Those savings would occur mainly because, expect that market disruptions and other implemen- under the legislation, outlays from new block grants tation problems would accompany the transition to between 2020 and 2026 would be smaller than the the block grants created by the legislation—despite the reduction in net federal subsidies for health insurance. availability of funding specifically designated to assist Funding would shift away from states that expanded with that transition—given the short time for planning eligibility for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act and making changes between now and then. (ACA) and toward states that did not. CBO and JCT would need at least several weeks to pro- The number of people with comprehensive health vide point estimates of the effects on the deficit, health insurance that covers high-cost medical events would be insurance coverage, and premiums. During that time, the agencies would gather and analyze more information about states’ potential uses of the block grants and the 1. At this time, CBO and JCT have not analyzed other versions of extent to which states might modify rules governing the this legislation, such as those labeled LYN17709 and LYN17752, which have also been posted on Senator Cassidy’s website. nongroup market. 2 Preliminary Analysis of Legislation That Would Replace Subsidies for Health Care With Block Grants September 2017 Major Provisions of the Legislation the basis of health status, age, and other factors; and the Upon enactment, the legislation would eliminate requirement that insurance sold in the nongroup market penalties associated with the requirements that most generally rely on a single risk pool. people obtain health insurance coverage (also called the individual mandate) and that large employers offer their Effects on the Federal Budget Deficit employees coverage that meets specified standards (also According to CBO and JCT’s analysis, the legislation called the employer mandate). would reduce the on-budget deficit over the 2017–2026 period by at least $133 billion, the projected savings Starting in 2018, the legislation would reduce the federal from the House-passed reconciliation bill. The agen- share of Medicaid funding for adults made eligible for cies made that assessment relative to the March 2016 that program by the ACA to 90 percent for two years baseline, which has been the basis for cost estimates (compared with 94 percent in 2018 and 93 percent in related to the 2017 budget resolution. That effect on the 2019 under current law). It would also allow payments deficit would arise mainly from a few budgetary flows of premiums for certain types of insurance to qualify as that result from the net effect of provisions that would medical expenses for health savings accounts and repeal a provide funding for block grants, eliminate subsidies and few of the tax provisions enacted as part of the ACA. penalties, and reduce Medicaid spending. In 2019 and 2020, the legislation would make funding The amount that would be appropriated for the new ($10 billion and $15 billion, respectively) available to block grants—$1.2 trillion from 2020 to 2026—is about health insurers to stabilize premiums and promote par- $230 billion less than the amount in CBO’s March ticipation in the nongroup market. 2016 baseline for the major subsidies over that period that would be eliminated under the legislation. (Those In 2020, the legislation would set a limit, on a per-­ subsidies are for adults made eligible for Medicaid by the enrollee basis, on the amount of reimbursement the ACA and for insurance obtained in the marketplaces and federal government provides to states for Medicaid, and through the Basic Health Program.) That reduction in the growth in per-enrollee payments would be limited to subsidies would be partly offset by the repeal of penalty no more than the growth rates of certain price indexes. payments from the individual and employer mandates, The following provisions would also take effect: which totaled about $200 billion over the 2020–2026 period in CBO’s March 2016 baseline. The net result of ■■ Medicaid funding would be eliminated for adults those flows—providing the new block grants and elimi- made eligible for that program by the ACA. nating those subsidies and penalties—would be to reduce the deficit even if all of the grant funding was spent by ■■ Tax credits for health insurance coverage purchased 2026. However, CBO estimates, at least $150 billion of through the marketplaces established by the ACA and the $1.2 trillion in budget authority for the block grants subsidies to reduce cost-sharing payments for certain would not result in outlays by 2026, further reducing the low-income people would be repealed. deficit. ■■ Funds would be appropriated for block grants to Several other budgetary flows would roughly offset one states, with amounts based on historical federal another. Eliminating the subsidies and penalties would Medicaid funding for adults made eligible for that have other effects that would work to increase the deficit program by the ACA and historical funding for significantly from 2020 to 2026. Among those other subsidies provided through the marketplaces and the effects, according to CBO and JCT’s estimates, the Basic Health Program. largest would be a reduction in revenues because more people would obtain insurance coverage through their States would be allowed to modify certain requirements employer and hence would receive more of their income in the nongroup insurance market if the new block in nontaxable health benefits and less in taxable wages. grants directly provided some assistance to participants Two other flows would work to decrease the deficit: in that market. States could modify requirements that Reductions in Medicaid spending over the 2020–2026 policies include what are known as essential health bene- period for people besides those made eligible by the ACA fits; restrictions on insurers’ ability to vary premiums on September 2017 Preliminary Analysis of Legislation That Would Replace Subsidies for Health Care With Block Grants 3 and the total effect in 2018 and 2019 of the legislation’s To assess how the new grant funding might be used and provisions dealing with insurance coverage. how quickly funds would be spent, the agencies relied on information provided by states and insurers across the The provisions other than those directly affecting health country and by the Department of Health and Human insurance coverage would increase on-budget deficits Services, consultation with CBO’s Panel of Health by $22 billion, on net, over the 2017–2026 period Advisers, analysis of allowable uses of the funds by (see Table 1, at the end of this document). Unlike the states, and historical experience with large federal grant estimate for overall deficit reduction, the estimates of programs. the effects of those noncoverage provisions are point estimates, which CBO and JCT were able to develop Under this legislation, states would have enormous flexi- because the analysis was more straightforward. bility, and there are many possible responses to consider. To quickly estimate whether the deficit reduction stem- Each title of the bill would, by the agencies’ estimates, ming from this legislation would exceed the projected reduce the on-budget deficit by more than $1 billion savings from the House-passed reconciliation bill, CBO over the 2017–2026 period. Because no funding would and JCT focused on two sets of responses that would be provided for the block grants after 2026, the annual have a reasonable chance of occurring and that would reduction in the deficit would be much greater after that produce deficit reductions that were on the small side of year. Enactment would not increase net direct spend- possible outcomes: ing or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027. ■■ Funds from the new block grant would be spent relatively quickly; and Analytical Approach In the short time available, CBO and JCT could not ■■ Conditions in the nongroup market would cause complete a full analysis of the effects of this legislation significantly more employers to offer nontaxable on the federal budget that was built up from effects on health benefits than under current law, reducing health insurance coverage and premiums (as the agen- revenues substantially. cies typically construct their estimates). Nevertheless, building on work done earlier this year on many related This approach differs from CBO and JCT’s usual proposals, the agencies assessed whether this legisla- approach because the agencies generally aim to provide tion would reduce the deficit by an amount equal to or point estimates in the middle of the distribution of greater than the projected savings from the House-passed possible outcomes. The agencies typically assess leg- reconciliation bill. In particular, CBO and JCT drew islation making major changes to subsidies for health upon their projections of the effects of related provisions insurance by estimating the budgetary effects associated of the Better Care Reconciliation Act, the Obamacare with different possible responses to the incentives in Repeal Reconciliation Act, the American Health Care the legislation and produce a central point estimate by Act, and other recent proposals.2 averaging the effects of those responses. In that average, a set of responses receives more weight when it applies to 2. The related provisions include those that would provide payments a higher proportion of people. The approach used in this to insurers to lower premiums and those that would repeal the analysis allowed the agencies to examine many fewer sets Medicaid expansion, provisions related to the existing subsidies of possible responses. Providing a point estimate of the in the nongroup market and penalties on individuals who are savings would take much longer. uninsured and certain employers who do not offer coverage, and some noncoverage provisions. See Congressional Budget Office, Although CBO and JCT are confident that their esti- cost estimate for H.R. 1628, the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, an amendment in the nature of a substitute mates of the deficit reduction stemming from the [ERN17500], as posted on the website of the Senate Committee legislation would exceed certain thresholds, the ways in on the Budget on July 20, 2017 (July 20, 2017), www.cbo.gov/ which individuals, employers, states, insurers, doctors, publication/52941, cost estimate for H.R. 1628, the Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act of 2017, an amendment in the nature of a substitute [LYN17479], as posted on the website of the H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act of 2017, as passed Senate Committee on the Budget on July 19, 2017 (July 19, by the House of Representatives (May 24, 2017), www.cbo.gov/ 2017), www.cbo.gov/publication/52939, and cost estimate for publication/52752. 4 Preliminary Analysis of Legislation That Would Replace Subsidies for Health Care With Block Grants September 2017 hospitals, and other affected parties would respond to the poverty level (FPL), with adjustments for factors related changes made by this legislation are all difficult to pre- to the health of those residents and for other factors dict. Thus, the estimates themselves are uncertain. (Point affecting states’ health care costs.4 estimates would be even more uncertain.) Additional funds would be provided for states with The baseline used for this analysis—CBO’s March 2016 low population density ($1.5 billion in 2020 and baseline projections, with adjustments for legislation $1.25 billion in 2021), states that expanded eligibility that was enacted after that baseline was produced—was for Medicaid under the ACA ($1.5 billion in 2020 and chosen on the basis of consultation with the budget $1.25 billion in 2021), and states that did not undertake committees. Those projections underlie the 2017 budget that expansion ($3 billion in 2020 and $2.5 billion in resolution, which specified reconciliation instructions 2021). After 2026, under the legislation, funding for the and was the basis for the deficit reduction goals stated in new block grants would stop. the resolution.3 Allowable Purposes of the Grants Distribution and Use of Grants to States for The grants to states could be used for the following seven Market-Based Health Care purposes: In general, the allocation of the grants under the legis- lation would shift funding away from states that have ■■ To help people purchase nongroup coverage if they already expanded eligibility for Medicaid under the ACA have or are projected to have high health care costs and toward states that have not. In 2020, both groups and do not have access to health insurance offered of states would receive about 10 percent less funding through an employer; from the new block grants than the amount in CBO’s March 2016 baseline arising from two sources: Medicaid ■■ To enter into arrangements with health insurers to funding for people made eligible for that program by reduce premiums in the nongroup market; the ACA, and subsidies for insurance purchased through marketplaces or the Basic Health Program. By 2026, ■■ To provide payments to health care providers; under the legislation, states that have already expanded Medicaid under the ACA would receive about 30 percent ■■ To provide assistance to reduce out-of-pocket costs, less funding than the amount projected in the baseline, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles, in and other states would receive about 30 percent more, the nongroup market; CBO and JCT estimate. (Those estimates are averages in which each state receives equal weight; effects would ■■ To help people (in addition to those targeted by the differ among states.) first purpose) purchase nongroup coverage; Under the legislation, grants would be allocated under a ■■ To provide Medicaid benefits through private insurers formula in which the basis shifts over time from histori- for people besides those made eligible by the ACA cal spending to the share of low-income people in a state. (with no more than 20 percent of the funds being In 2020, $146 billion would be allocated on the basis used for this purpose); and of how much states and their residents received from the two sources of subsidies during four recent calendar ■■ To establish or maintain a program to provide health quarters. In 2026, $190 billion would be allocated to care services through arrangements with managed states according to their share of residents with income care organizations to people who are not eligible for between 50 percent and 138 percent of the federal Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). 3. In September 2017, CBO updated its baseline projections of federal subsidies for health insurance. Relative to that baseline, the subsidies for health insurance coverage purchased through the 4. In comparison, in CBO’s March 2016 baseline projections, nongroup market are projected to be lower under current law. federal costs for people made eligible for Medicaid under the Further analysis is needed to determine whether the estimated ACA and for people purchasing subsidized health insurance savings would be greater than or less than the amount for the through the marketplaces or the Basic Health Program were House-passed bill. estimated to total $165 billion in 2020 and $240 billion in 2026. September 2017 Preliminary Analysis of Legislation That Would Replace Subsidies for Health Care With Block Grants 5 At least half of the funds would be required to be used those states would aim to continue to provide coverage to provide assistance to people with income between to a similar group of people to the extent allowed by 50 percent and 300 percent of the FPL. available funds. States would be able to leverage their existing systems to provide that coverage. They would States’ Uses of the Grants have great flexibility to determine the eligibility criteria, The flexibility afforded by the new block grants would covered benefits, premiums, cost sharing requirements, allow states to experiment with different ways to cover and other aspects of such a program. Those alterna- health care costs. CBO and JCT expect that states would tive programs could be structured similarly to current learn from one another, and over time, they would adopt Medicaid programs or very differently. practices found to be successful elsewhere that supported their goals for subsidizing coverage (in terms of both In addition, to the extent they had additional funds the people receiving subsidies and the types of coverage available, some states that have expanded Medicaid subsidized), regulating coverage, and so on. Although would probably use other mechanisms to help people further analysis is needed to estimate what proportion purchase nongroup coverage if they had or were pro- of the funds would be used for which purposes and how jected to have high health care costs. However, by 2026, quickly the funds would be spent, the agencies have the amount of funding for states that expanded Medicaid begun to assess the likely uses. would roughly equal those states’ federal Medicaid costs (as projected under current law) for people made eligible In CBO and JCT’s estimation, most states would for the program under the ACA. Those states would not eventually make changes in the regulations for their have enough federal funding to both provide similar nongroup market in order to stabilize it and would use benefits to people in an alternative program and extend some funds from the new block grants to facilitate those support to others. In particular, CBO and JCT expect changes. In the agencies’ assessment, the nongroup that most of those states would then choose to provide market would become unstable if current-law regula- little support to people in the nongroup market because tions remained in place without substantial subsidies for doing so effectively would be the more difficult task. insurance (and penalties for not having insurance).5 For example, if regulations prohibited premiums from being In states that have not expanded Medicaid, CBO and based on one’s health status and healthy people’s insur- JCT anticipate, funds from the new block grants would ance was not subsidized, the people who wanted to buy be used partly to help people purchase nongroup cov- coverage at any offered price would have average health erage if they had or were projected to have high health care expenditures so high that offering the insurance care costs (through what are known as high-risk pools). would be unprofitable to insurers. Insurers would then Several other uses would help satisfy the requirement not participate in the nongroup market. Therefore, lack- to use at least half of the funding to provide assistance ing substantial subsidies for the nongroup market, most to people with income between 50 percent and 300 states would eventually want to modify various insurance percent of the FPL and potentially reduce pressure on market requirements. Under the conditions specified state budgets. For example, states could fund some of in the legislation, to be allowed to modify market rules, their programs that would have operated under current states would have to pay at least small amounts as subsi- law. They could make payments to health care providers, dies for purchasing nongroup coverage. primarily for services provided to low-income people, such as paying for uncompensated care. And states could CBO and JCT expect that many states that have use funds to increase Medicaid payment rates or benefits expanded Medicaid would use funds from the new for people who remain eligible under the legislation. block grants to establish a new program. Because people enrolled in Medicaid as a result of the expansion would, Effects on Health Insurance Coverage under the legislation, lose eligibility starting in 2020, CBO and JCT expect that, if this legislation was enacted, millions of additional people would be uninsured com- pared with CBO’s baseline projections each year over the 5. For additional discussion, see Congressional Budget Office, How 2018–2026 period. (Adopting a well-established defini- Repealing Portions of the Affordable Care Act Would Affect Health Insurance Coverage and Premiums (January 2017), www.cbo.gov/ tion, the agencies categorize people as uninsured if they publication/52371. are not covered by a policy or enrolled in a government 6 Preliminary Analysis of Legislation That Would Replace Subsidies for Health Care With Block Grants September 2017 program that provides financial protection from major programs established by states that would have their medical risks.) That increase would stem mainly from expansion of Medicaid rolled back. (If expansion states’ lower enrollment in Medicaid and the nongroup market. alternative programs spent an equal amount per enrollee for a population similar to the projected population CBO estimates that many fewer people would be made newly eligible under the ACA, the total cost would enrolled in Medicaid for three primary reasons: The roughly equal the total block grant amount for those expansion of the program established by the ACA would states by 2026.) In addition, the agencies expect, more be repealed starting in 2020, federal reimbursement people would be covered by employment-based insur- to states for Medicaid would be capped on a per-en- ance because some employers that would not have done rollee basis beginning in 2020, and the individual so otherwise would respond to the reduction in subsi- mandate penalty (which induces some people to enroll dies for nongroup coverage by offering coverage to their in Medicaid) would be repealed upon the legislation’s employees. enactment. Because the legislation would not provide funding for Total enrollment in the nongroup market would be the block grants after 2026, the increase in the number lower because the current-law subsidies for coverage of uninsured people compared with the number under in that market would be eliminated and the individual current law would be significantly greater after that year. mandate would be repealed. CBO and JCT expect that the funds from the block grants would do little to offset Effects on Medicaid the effects on the nongroup market of that elimination All told, federal spending on Medicaid would be reduced other than to facilitate modifying market regulations. For by about $1 trillion over the 2017–2026 period under example, the distribution of those funds among states this legislation, and the program would cover millions would differ substantially from the federal funding under fewer enrollees. The largest effect would stem from current law, and many states that expanded eligibility for eliminating funding for adults made eligible by the Medicaid and have particularly high levels of coverage ACA. Depending on how states used their new grant under current law would receive the largest reductions funds, many of those people could receive assistance in in funding under the block grants. Consequently, those other ways. Other changes to Medicaid, such as capping states would find it particularly challenging to reach Medicaid spending on a per-enrollee basis and allow- current enrollment levels using the available subsidies. ing work requirements, would also occur under the Because supporting the nongroup market would be legislation. more difficult, states would probably expend less in grant funding to do so. Also, states that received a large The Legislation’s Caps on Federal Medicaid Spending increase in funding in 2020 relative to the amount under Beginning in 2020, the federal government would estab- current law would spend the money slowly, CBO and lish a limit on the amount of reimbursement provided to JCT expect, and not be able to immediately boost cov- states for Medicaid on a per-enrollee basis. For each state, erage because they would have insufficient information that limit would be set on the basis of the average cost technology and related infrastructure to establish their of medical services for most enrollees who received full own system for administering subsidies. In addition, Medicaid benefits in a recent period, although no limit states would probably use some of the available funding would apply for disabled children. (Adults made eligible for purposes that would not be geared toward increas- for Medicaid by the ACA would be excluded from those ing health insurance coverage, such as for payments to calculations because their coverage would be eliminated.) providers who deliver health care services to low-income Those per-enrollee costs would be allowed to increase by people, state programs that would have operated under no more than the growth in certain price indexes: current law, or both. ■■ For nondisabled children and nondisabled adults Other factors affecting the total number of people enrolled in Medicaid, the medical care component uninsured would partially offset the lower enrollment of the consumer price index (CPI-M) during the in Medicaid and the nongroup market. In particular, 2020–2024 period and the consumer price index for some people who would have been covered by Medicaid all urban consumers (CPI-U) thereafter, and under current law would be covered by the alternative September 2017 Preliminary Analysis of Legislation That Would Replace Subsidies for Health Care With Block Grants 7 ■■ For most enrollees who are disabled adults or age 65 significantly below those of Medicare or private insur- or older, the CPI-M plus 1 percentage point during ance for some of the same services. If states reduced the 2020–2024 period and the CPI-M thereafter. payments to Medicaid’s managed care plans, some plans might shrink their provider networks, curtail quality If a state spent more than the limit on federal reimburse- assurance, or drop out of the managed care program ment, the federal government would provide no addi- altogether. If states reduced covered services, some tional funding to match that spending. enrollees might decide either to pay out of pocket or to forgo those services entirely. And if states narrowed their In general, states would not have substantial additional categories of eligibility or used administrative procedures flexibility under the per capita caps. A few states would that made enrolling more difficult, some people would probably obtain additional flexibility to make changes to lose access to Medicaid coverage. (However, some might their Medicaid program by participating in the Medicaid become eligible for similar services provided through a Flexibility Program, an option to receive a block grant new block grant program, if enough money was available of a fixed amount rather than a per-enrollee amount for in their state.) nondisabled adult enrollees. Under that option, states could alter cost-sharing requirements and, to a limited Alternatively, if states chose to leave their Medicaid pro- degree, benefits. However, because funding under that gram unchanged and instead found other ways to offset program would grow over time at the rate of the CPI-U, the loss of federal funds, enrollees would notice little CBO anticipates that it would be attractive mainly to the or no change in their Medicaid coverage. States might few states that expect to decline in population and would also find ways to deliver services at a lower cost without have little effect on enrollment in Medicaid. It would affecting access to care for enrollees. not be attractive in most states experiencing population growth, as the fixed block grant would not be adjusted Work Requirements for Medicaid for such growth. In those states, population growth Under the legislation, CBO anticipates, some states would constrain federal reimbursement per enrollee. would use work requirements—allowed starting October 1, 2017—to reduce enrollment and the asso- Effects of Capping Medicaid Spending ciated costs. Under current law, states may not condi- By CBO’s estimates, in most states, capping federal tion the receipt of Medicaid on any criteria related to Medicaid spending would result in less total reim- a person’s employment status. This legislation would bursement than would occur under current law. As a permit states to impose a work requirement for an adult result, states might decide to commit more of their own as long as the person is not disabled, elderly, pregnant, resources to maintain current-law levels of spending for or exempted for another allowed reason. The definition people who would remain eligible for the program—par- of work would be the same as the Temporary Assistance ticularly for nondisabled children and nondisabled adults for Needy Families program’s, which includes activities after 2024. Alternatively, they might decide to reduce such as unsubsidized employment, subsidized employ- spending in various ways: by cutting payments to health ment, vocational training, and educational activities. care providers and health plans, eliminating optional The legislation would provide states with broad discre- services, restricting eligibility for enrollment through tion to define how many hours of work each week were work requirements and other changes, or (to the extent required; how long enrolled people would have before feasible) finding more efficient methods for delivering needing to meet the requirements; and, if they failed to services. In some states, CBO anticipates, a portion of meet the requirements, when benefits would cease. the new block grants would be used to boost spending on Medicaid. All in all, CBO expects that states would Effects on the Nongroup Market adopt a mix of those approaches. If those approaches CBO and JCT would need at least several weeks to reduced enrollment, federal spending would be reduced. provide point estimates of the effects on health insurance coverage in the nongroup market, but the direction of Some of the choices made by states could reduce enroll- the effects is clear. Overall, CBO and JCT estimate, mil- ees’ access to care. If states reduced payment rates, fewer lions fewer people each year would be enrolled through providers might accept Medicaid patients—especially the nongroup market under the legislation than would because, in many cases, Medicaid’s rates are already be under current law. 8 Preliminary Analysis of Legislation That Would Replace Subsidies for Health Care With Block Grants September 2017 Because this legislation would, upon enactment, elim- credits available under current law would be eliminated, inate penalties associated with the individual and would be hard. employer mandates, fewer people would enroll in health insurance obtained through the nongroup market Financial constraints would also limit states’ options. (as well as through employment-based coverage and Under current law, on average in any month during Medicaid) starting in 2018. The estimated savings from 2016, 8.4 million people had income between 100 per- the reduced subsidies stemming from lower enrollment cent and 400 percent of the FPL and received income- exceed the estimated loss of revenues from eliminating based subsidies for nongroup coverage. That figure the mandate penalties in 2018 and 2019. Starting in represents roughly half of the estimated total number of 2020, the grants and the ability to modify market rules enrollees in the nongroup market in that year. Given the would change the operation of the nongroup market difficulties in establishing a new income-based subsidy significantly in most states. Insurers’ anticipation of those for nongroup insurance, those people could potentially changes would probably affect their decisions to partici- receive assistance from a new state program similar to pate in the nongroup market before 2020, also affecting Medicaid. But if such a program covered people made enrollment. eligible for Medicaid under the ACA but no longer eligible under the legislation, then funding to cover addi- To use the grants provided by the legislation to aid peo- tional people would probably be limited. ple purchasing insurance in the nongroup market, states would face the difficult task of implementing new sys- In CBO and JCT’s assessment, the states that expanded tems by 2020 (regardless of any market rules changed), Medicaid eligibility under the ACA would be the most so their options would initially be limited. Implementing likely to try to establish a new program or provide new broader changes to the nongroup market would prob- subsidies to aid people with income between 100 percent ably take states several years. In 2020 or in later years, and 400 percent of the FPL who would enroll in the some states might eliminate many regulations on health nongroup market under current law. However, CBO and insurance and use grant funds to subsidize insurance JCT expect that many of those people would receive lit- for people facing high prices in an unregulated market. tle or no support from the block grants to pay for health However, in many states, the transitions starting in 2020 care expenses. States that expanded Medicaid would be would be difficult—and some areas would probably have facing large reductions in funding compared with the no insurers offering policies in the nongroup market amounts under current law and thus would have trouble until the new market rules were clear and insurers had paying for a new program or subsidies for those people. enough time to adapt to them. Effects of Retaining Market Rules Difficulties in Providing Income-Based Assistance In states that did not modify the rules governing the Providing income-based assistance to people to purchase nongroup market, its operation would differ depending insurance in the nongroup market would be especially on how the new block grants were used. If a state used difficult. To establish its own system of subsidies for its block grant funds entirely to create a program for coverage in the nongroup market related to people’s the people made eligible for Medicaid under the ACA income, a state would have to enact legislation and create (but no longer eligible under the legislation) and people a new administrative infrastructure. A state would not be with somewhat higher income, for example, then many able to rely on any existing system for verifying eligibility of those people would receive benefits through that or making payments. It would need to establish a new program. However, people with income too high to be system for enrolling people in nongroup insurance, verify eligible for that program would probably face an unsta- eligibility for tax credits or other subsidies, certify insur- ble nongroup market. ance as eligible for subsidies, and ultimately ensure that the payments were correct. Those steps would be chal- Without subsidies—and with insurers required to accept lenging, particularly if the state chose to simultaneously enrollees having preexisting health conditions and with change insurance market regulations. Insurers would also premiums varying only by age, geography, and smoking need time to develop plans under the new system. And status—premiums would be high, and few people would accomplishing those steps before 2020, when the tax enroll. Not only would enrollment decline, but the people most likely to remain enrolled would tend to be September 2017 Preliminary Analysis of Legislation That Would Replace Subsidies for Health Care With Block Grants 9 less healthy (as they would be more willing to pay higher people with preexisting conditions would be much more premiums). Thus, average health care costs among the expensive in some of those states than under current law. people retaining coverage would be higher, and insurers (Without such modifications, as discussed in the previ- would have to raise premiums in the nongroup market to ous section, coverage could become unavailable or more cover those higher costs. Anticipating such an unsustain- expensive for many more people than it would be under able spiral, some insurers would not participate in the current law.) nongroup market. In those areas with insurers, according to CBO and JCT’s analysis, enrollment would continue States could expand the limits on how much insurers in to drop, and premiums would continue to increase year the nongroup market could vary premiums on the basis by year. Under such circumstances, over time, fewer and of age, for example. Under current law, a 64-year-old fewer insurers would continue to offer insurance in the can generally be charged premiums that cost up to three nongroup market. times as much as those charged to a 21-year-old. CBO and JCT anticipate that some states would increase that Without any changes to the rules governing the ratio—to, say, 5 to 1, instead of 3 to 1—which would nongroup market, if a state used a combination of fund- reduce premiums for younger people and increase pre- ing from the new block grants and its own resources to miums for older people and tend to somewhat increase provide subsidies in that market similar to those under insurance coverage, on net. current law, then the nongroup market would probably be stable. However, insurance plans would attract less In addition, CBO and JCT expect that some states healthy people and premiums would be higher than would alter requirements that policies include the under current law. If a state required individuals to have essential health benefits specified by the ACA and instead insurance, some healthier people would enroll, and pre- allow a narrower scope of benefits. For some people, miums would be lower. their premiums would be lower, but their insurance would cover fewer medical services. CBO and JCT Effects of Modifying Market Rules expect insurance covering certain services not included Starting in 2020, under the legislation, states could mod- in the scope of benefits to become more expensive—in ify certain existing rules governing the nongroup market. some cases, extremely expensive. For people who received direct assistance through the block grant, states could specify the extent to which The scope of benefits could be modified to, among other insurers could vary premiums for enrollees and the bene- things, exclude coverage of services that have high costs fits that were required, with certain exceptions. The assis- and are used by few people. If so, then coverage could be tance could consist of a small flat amount per enrollee difficult to obtain for mental health care, rehabilitative provided to insurers or some other direct subsidy. (States and habilitative treatment, and certain very expensive would probably need to use other funding to satisfy the drugs. Such modifications would lower premiums for legislation’s requirement that at least half of the block many people and increase the number of people with grant amount provide assistance to people with income coverage for a narrower set of benefits. But on the between 50 percent and 300 percent of the FPL.) basis of historical experience, CBO and JCT anticipate that the funding available to help provide coverage for CBO and JCT anticipate that most states would eventu- excluded high-cost services would be insufficient in some ally modify various rules to help stabilize the nongroup cases even if a special program was designed for that market. Most states would lack the stabilizing mecha- purpose. Also, states would probably be conservative nisms that exist under current law: significant subsidies in setting eligibility rules for such a program to ensure for nongroup health insurance and the requirement to that costs did not exceed the available federal funds. purchase insurance. Their eventual modifications to Therefore, the agencies expect that insurance coverage for market rules—covering, for example, how premiums high-cost services would become extremely expensive in could be set and what benefits policies would have to those areas, as it was in some places before the enactment provide—would increase the number of insured people of the ACA in 2010. by 2026 above what would occur under this legislation if states did not modify the market rules, CBO and JCT CBO and JCT also anticipate that some states would expect. Nevertheless, with the modifications, coverage for allow insurers to set premiums on the basis of an 10 Preliminary Analysis of Legislation That Would Replace Subsidies for Health Care With Block Grants September 2017 individual’s health status. That is, the state would Some noncoverage provisions differ substantially from eliminate the requirement for what is termed commu- those in prior versions of the legislation. They would, nity rating for premiums charged to such people, and among other things: they would be charged premiums based on their own expected health care costs (medically underwritten ■■ Decrease the period for which Medicaid benefits may premiums). People with lower expected health care costs be covered retroactively from up to three months would have lower premiums, and more of those people before a recipient’s application to the second month might buy such insurance than would do so if premiums before the month in which a recipient makes an were not based on an individual’s health status. However, application; the higher the expected health care costs, the higher the premiums would be; for some people, premiums would ■■ Lower the threshold for the amount of taxes that be a very large share of their income. As a result, some states can collect from health care providers from people who would have been insured in the nongroup 6 percent to 4 percent by 2025; market under current law would be uninsured, and others would obtain coverage through a family member’s ■■ Permit states to provide inpatient psychiatric services employer or through their own employer. to adult enrollees for up to 90 days per calendar year; Budgetary Effects of Noncoverage Provisions ■■ Provide 100 percent federal reimbursement for This legislation would make changes other than those services for Medicaid enrollees who are members of directly affecting health insurance coverage, increasing an Indian tribe; the deficit by a total of $28 billion over the 2017–2026 period, with an on-budget increase of $22 billion. Many ■■ Reduce the cuts to allotments to states for payments provisions would have the same effects as those esti- to hospitals that treat a disproportionate share of mated for prior versions of the legislation, as explained uninsured and Medicaid patients—scheduled to in CBO’s earlier estimates.6 Those provisions address, occur from 2018 to 2025—by the amount of any among other things: annual reductions (with the effects of inflation removed) in a state’s funding from the new block ■■ The Better Care Reconciliation Implementation grants; and Fund, ■■ Increase the federal matching rates for the two states, ■■ Medicaid and CHIP quality performance bonus Alaska and Hawaii, that have a separate poverty payments, threshold by a portion of the average matching rate for all other states that have one poverty threshold. ■■ The Prevention and Public Health Fund, and The legislation would also repeal several revenue-related ■■ The Community Health Center Program. provisions of the ACA that are not directly related to health insurance coverage. Effective beginning in 2018, the provisions with the largest budgetary effects would increase the maximum contribution to health savings 6. See Congressional Budget Office, cost estimate for H.R. 1628, accounts, repeal the medical device excise tax, and the Healthcare Freedom Act of 2017, an amendment in the allow money from health savings accounts and flexible nature of a substitute [S.A. 667] (July 27, 2017), www.cbo. spending arrangements to be used to purchase over-the- gov/publication/52979, cost estimate for H.R. 1628, the Better counter drugs. Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, an amendment in the nature of a substitute [ERN17500], as posted on the website of the Senate Committee on the Budget on July 20, 2017 (July 20, 2017), www.cbo.gov/publication/52941, and cost estimate for H.R. 1628, the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, an amendment in the nature of a substitute [LYN17343], as posted on the website of the Senate Committee on the Budget on June 26, 2017 (June 26, 2017), pp. 32–35, www.cbo.gov/ publication/52849. September 2017 Preliminary Analysis of Legislation That Would Replace Subsidies for Health Care With Block Grants 11 Table 1 - ESTIMATE OF THE DIRECT SPENDING AND REVENUE EFFECTS OF H.R. 1628, AN AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE [LYN17744], AS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE OF SENATOR CASSIDY ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 2017- 2017- Billions of Dollars, by Fiscal Year 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2021 2026 ESTIMATED CHANGES IN DIRECT SPENDINGa Coverage Provisions Estimated Budget Authority 0 b b b b b b b b b b b Estimated Outlays 0 b b b b b b b b b b b On-Budget 0 b b b b b b b b b b b Off-Budget 0 b b b b b b b b b b b Title I Sec. 101 - Recapture of Excess Advance Payments of Premium Tax Credits Estimated Budget Authority 0 -3.4 -3.9 -1.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 -8.5 -8.5 Estimated Outlays 0 -3.4 -3.9 -1.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 -8.5 -8.5 Sec. 102 - Premium Tax Credit Estimated Budget Authority included in estimate of coverage provisions Estimated Outlays included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 103 - Small Business Tax Credit Estimated Budget Authority included in estimate of coverage provisions Estimated Outlays included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 104 - Individual Mandate Estimated Budget Authority included in estimate of coverage provisions Estimated Outlays included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 105 - Employer Mandate Estimated Budget Authority included in estimate of coverage provisions Estimated Outlays included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 106 - Short-Term Assistance and Market-Based Grant Program Estimated Budget Authority included in estimate of coverage provisions Estimated Outlays included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 107 - Better Care Reconciliation Implementation Fund Estimated Budget Authority 0 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.0 2.0 Estimated Outlays 0 * 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 * * * 1.4 1.9 Sec. 117 - Federal Payment to States Estimated Budget Authority 0 -0.2 * * * * * * * * -0.2 -0.1 Estimated Outlays 0 -0.2 * * * * * * * * -0.2 -0.1 Sec. 118 - Medicaid Estimated Budget Authority 0 0 0 -1.1 -1.9 -2.5 -3.2 -3.3 -3.5 -3.7 -3.0 -19.3 Estimated Outlays 0 0 0 -1.1 -1.9 -2.5 -3.2 -3.3 -3.5 -3.7 -3.0 -19.3 Sec. 119 - Reducing State Medicaid Costs Estimated Budget Authority included in estimate of coverage provisions 0 * -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.3 -0.8 Estimated Outlays included in estimate of coverage provisions 0 * -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.3 -0.8 Sec. 120 - Eligibility Redeterminations Estimated Budget Authority included in estimate of coverage provisions Estimated Outlays included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 121 - Optional Work Requirement for Nondisabled, Nonelderly, Nonpregnant Individuals Estimated Budget Authority included in estimate of coverage provisions Estimated Outlays included in estimate of coverage provisions Continued 12 Preliminary Analysis of Legislation That Would Replace Subsidies for Health Care With Block Grants September 2017 Continued. 2017- 2017- Billions of Dollars, by Fiscal Year 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2021 2026 Sec. 122 - Provider Taxes Estimated Budget Authority 0 0 0 0 -0.3 -0.7 -1.5 -2.6 -3.9 -4.2 -0.3 -13.0 Estimated Outlays 0 0 0 0 -0.3 -0.7 -1.5 -2.6 -3.9 -4.2 -0.3 -13.0 Sec. 123 - Per Capita Allotment for Medical Assistance Estimated Budget Authority included in estimate of coverage provisions Estimated Outlays included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 124 - Flexible Block Grant Option for States Estimated Budget Authority included in estimate of coverage provisions Estimated Outlays included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 125 - Medicaid and CHIP Quality Performance Bonus Payments Estimated Budget Authority 0 0 0 0 0 0 8.0 0 0 0 0 8.0 Estimated Outlays 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0 3.0 Sec. 126 - Optional Assistance for Certain Inpatient Psychiatric Services Estimated Budget Authority included in estimate of coverage provisions Estimated Outlays included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 127 - Enhanced FMAP for Medical Assistance to Eligible Indians Estimated Budget Authority 0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 1.5 3.5 Estimated Outlays 0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 1.5 3.5 Sec. 128 - Nonapplication of DSH Cuts Estimated Budget Authority 0 0 0 0 1.9 2.5 2.8 3.4 3.5 3.7 1.9 17.9 Estimated Outlays 0 0 0 0 1.9 2.5 2.8 3.4 3.5 3.7 1.9 17.9 Sec. 129 - Determination of FMAP for High-Poverty States Estimated Budget Authority 0 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.0 2.8 7.2 Estimated Outlays 0 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.0 2.8 7.2 Title II Sec. 201 - Prevention and Public Health Fund Estimated Budget Authority 0 0 -0.9 -1.0 -1.0 -1.5 -1.0 -1.7 -2.0 -2.0 -2.9 -11.1 Estimated Outlays 0 0 -0.1 -0.4 -0.8 -1.0 -1.1 -1.3 -1.4 -1.7 -1.3 -7.9 Sec. 202 - Community Health Center Program Estimated Budget Authority 0 0.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.4 0.4 Estimated Outlays 0 0.2 0.2 * 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.4 0.4 Sec. 203 - Repeal of Cost-Sharing Subsidy Program Estimated Budget Authority included in estimate of coverage provisions Estimated Outlays included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 204 - Conditions for Receiving Market-Based Grant Estimated Budget Authority included in estimate of coverage provisions Estimated Outlays included in estimate of coverage provisions Total Changes in Direct Spending Estimated Budget Authority 0 b b b b b b b b b b b Estimated Outlays 0 b b b b b b b b b b b On-Budget 0 b b b b b b b b b b b Off-Budget 0 b b b b b b b b b b b Continued September 2017 Preliminary Analysis of Legislation That Would Replace Subsidies for Health Care With Block Grants 13 Continued. 2017- 2017- Billions of Dollars, by Fiscal Year 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2021 2026 ESTIMATED CHANGES IN REVENUESc Coverage Provisions 0 b b b b b b b b b b b On-Budget 0 b b b b b b b b b b b Off-Budget 0 b b b b b b b b b b b Title I Sec. 101 - Recapture of Excess Advance Payments of Premium Tax Credits 0 1.0 1.2 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.2 3.2 Sec. 102 - Premium Tax Credit included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 103 - Small Business Tax Credit included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 104 - Individual Mandate included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 105 - Employer Mandate included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 106 - Short Term Assistance and Market-Based Grant Program included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 108 - Repeal of Tax on Over-the- Counter Medications 0 -0.5 -0.5 -0.6 -0.6 -0.6 -0.6 -0.7 -0.7 -0.7 -2.2 -5.6 Sec. 109 - Repeal of Tax on HSAs 0 * * * * * * * * * * -0.1 Sec. 110 - Repeal of Medical Device Excise Tax 0 -1.4 -1.9 -2.0 -2.1 -2.2 -2.3 -2.4 -2.6 -2.7 -7.4 -19.6 Sec. 111 - Repeal of Elimination of Deduction for Expenses Allocable to Medicare Part D Subsidy 0 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.7 -1.8 Sec. 112 - Purchase of Insurance From HSA included in estimate of coverage provisions Sec. 113 - Maximum Contribution Limit to HSAs Increased to Amount of Deductible 0 -1.0 -1.6 -1.7 -1.9 -2.1 -2.3 -2.5 -2.7 -2.9 -6.2 -18.6 Sec. 114 - Allow BothLimitation Make and Out-of-Pocket Spouses to Catch-Up Contributions to the Same HSA 0 * * * * * * * -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.4 Sec. 115 - Special Rule for Certain Expenses Incurred Before Establishment of HSAs 0 * * * * * * * * * -0.1 -0.2 Sec. 116 - Exclusion From HSAs of High- Deductible Health Plans That Do Not Include Protections for Abortion included in estimate of coverage provisions Title II Sec. 204 - Conditions for Receiving Market-Based Grant included in estimate of coverage provisions Total Changes in Revenues 0 b b b b b b b b b b b On-Budget 0 b b b b b b b b b b b Off-Budget 0 b b b b b b b b b b b INCREASE OR DECREASE (-) IN THE DEFICIT FROM CHANGES IN DIRECT SPENDING AND REVENUES d Net Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit for Noncoverage Provisions 0 -0.2 0.5 2.4 5.4 4.9 3.9 4.4 3.1 3.1 8.0 27.5 On-Budget 0 -0.6 0.1 1.8 4.8 4.3 3.2 3.6 2.3 2.3 6.1 21.8 Off-Budget 0 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 2.0 5.8 Total Net Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit 0 b b b b b b b b b b b On-Budget 0 b b b b b b b b b b < -133.0 Off-Budget 0 b b b b b b b b b b b Sources: Congressional Budget Office; staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation. Numbers may not add up to totals because of rounding. CHIP = Children's Health Insurance Program; DSH = Disproportionate Share Hospital; FMAP = Federal Medical Assistance Percentages; HSA = health savings account; * = between -$50 million and $50 million; < -133.0 = a reduction in the on-budget deficit of at least $133 billion over the 2017–2026 period from all provisions combined. a. For outlays, a positive number indicates an increase (adding to the deficit), and a negative number indicates a decrease (reducing the deficit). b. Does not equal zero. CBO and JCT estimate a budgetary effect but have not developed a point estimate. c. For revenues, a positive number indicates an increase (reducing the deficit), and a negative number indicates a decrease (adding to the deficit). d. CBO and JCT estimate that titles I and II would each reduce on-budget deficits by more than $1 billion over the 2017–2026 period. 14 Preliminary Analysis of Legislation That Would Replace Subsidies for Health Care With Block Grants September 2017 This document was requested by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget. In keeping with CBO’s mandate to provide objective, impartial analysis, the document makes no recommendations. Kate Fritzsche, Jeffrey Kling, Sarah Masi, Kevin McNellis, Allison Percy, Lisa Ramirez-Branum, Robert Stewart, and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation prepared the document, with guidance from Jessica Banthin, Chad Chirico, and Alexandra Minicozzi. Theresa Gullo, Mark Hadley, Robert Sunshine, and David Weaver reviewed the document; John Skeen edited it; and Casey Labrack prepared it for publication. An electronic version is available on CBO’s website (www.cbo.gov/publication/53126). Keith Hall Director September 2017