Republicans Take a Page from Democrats, Offer Novel Idea on Medicaid

Democrats are trying to paint Republicans as enemies of Medicaid, but Florida GOP Rep. Daniel Webster is gaining support for a bill that would provide a tax deduction to healthcare providers in exchange for pro bono health services for people who rely on Medicaid or CHIP, the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Webster’s Helping Everyone Access Long Term Healthcare Act, or HEALTH Act, would amend the IRS code to allow medical professionals to take a tax deduction for the value of service performed, which he says will reduce the amount of paperwork associated with the low-income healthcare systems.

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Ohio Senate Passes Bill Expanding College-Savings Deduction

The Ohio state Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed legislation to permit more families to take advantage of an income-tax deduction that incentivizes saving for college. 

The measure sponsored by Senators Jay Hottinger (R-OH-Newark) and Andrew Brenner (R-OH-Delaware) applies the deduction to all savings programs nationwide established under Section 529 of the federal Internal Revenue Code. Current law allows Ohioans to take the deduction only for contributions to Ohio’s own 529 program.

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