Senator Rob Portman says he supports a reduction over time in federal funds for Medicaid expansion.
The Cincinnati-area Republican is taking part in GOP negotiations over an Affordable Care Act replacement. He answered questions about Medicaid during a news conference at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.
Portman said the expansion of Medicaid eligibility under the ACA has helped fund treatment for opioid addiction.
鈥淪o it鈥檚 a really important part of how you reform the healthcare system, is that you ensure that those people still have access to coverage,鈥� he said.
He couldn鈥檛 support the House GOP version of the bill, he said, because it would roll back federal money for the expansion in 2020. Portman said he backs a more gradual phase down.
鈥淪tarting from 90 percent, where it is in 2020, and slowly taking it down over seven years, would be very helpful for Ohio,鈥� he said.
Portman said he鈥檚 not sure where the Senate will end up on the issue.
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