---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Medicaid program has been on the…"
description: "\"The Medicaid program has been on the books for more than 50 years. The Graham-Cassidy bill proposes a dramatic, sweeping change in the way that program..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/susan-collins-8729_books_the-medicaid-program-has-been-on-the-boo_906398.jpg"
---

#  The Medicaid program has been on the books for more than…

![“The Medicaid program has been on the books for more than 50 years. The Graham-Cassidy bill proposes a dramatic, sweeping change in the way that program would be allocated and administered. And a program which does need reform, but we need careful reform. And I don't think this bill does that.” quote by Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/susan-collins-8729_books_the-medicaid-program-has-been-on-the-boo_906398.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/susan-collins-8729_books_the-medicaid-program-has-been-on-the-boo_906398.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/susan-collins-8729_books_the-medicaid-program-has-been-on-the-boo_906398.jpg)

> “The Medicaid program has been on the books for more than 50 years. The Graham-Cassidy bill proposes a dramatic, sweeping change in the way that program would be allocated and administered. And a program which does need reform, but we need careful reform. And I don't think this bill does that.”

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote argues that Medicaid needs reform, but the proposed bill is too sweeping and lacks careful consideration.

**In simple terms:** Medicaid reform must be cautious, not drastic.

Key Takeaway

Advocate for measured policy changes.

Themes

healthcare policy legislation reform caution political debate

Mood

concerned critical thoughtful

Type

policy analysis political commentary

When to use this quote

- legislative drafting
- budget planning
- state Medicaid administration
- public health budgeting

Key Concepts

public policy budget allocation federal-state relations

Questions to Reflect On

- What specific aspects of Medicaid need reform?
- How can reforms balance cost savings with patient care?

A Different Perspective

The bill may overlook unintended consequences for vulnerable populations.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Dramatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dramatic/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Medicaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicaid/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/)

## Related quotes

> [Originally created to serve the poorest and sickest among us, the Medicaid program has grown dramatically but still doesn't include the kind of flexibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/originally-created-to-serve-the-poorest-and-sickest-among-us-the/)

[Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/)

> [Medicaid covers vitally needed medical care for millions of people in New York. Compliance with billing requirements ensures the financial integrity of the Medicaid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-strauss/medicaid-covers-vitally-needed-medical-care-for-millions-of-people-in/)

[Audrey Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-strauss/)

> [We need a vibrant Medicaid program and strategies to expand affordable access to health care for all, especially for the specialty care services that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/we-need-a-vibrant-medicaid-program-and-strategies-to-expand/)

[Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/)

> [Well, there are about 10 million children that aren't covered by health insurance. About 3 million qualify for Medicaid but don't get it, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-raines/well-there-are-about-10-million-children-that-aren-t-covered-by/)

[Franklin Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-raines/)

> [Political reform need not go hand in hand with economic liberalization.. I hold unconventional views about this.. I do not believe if you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/political-reform-need-not-go-hand-in-hand-with-economic/)

[Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/)

> [If we're going to tackle the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, along with so many other issues that are at the top of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/if-we-re-going-to-tackle-the-skyrocketing-cost-of-prescription-drugs/)

[Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/)

> [You cannot simply put more money into the same system and get better results, so we will need to reform and innovate in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-mckenna/you-cannot-simply-put-more-money-into-the-same-system-and-get-better/)

[Rob McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-mckenna/)

> [We shouldn't be debating whether to deal with the current code by allowing it to be extended or not. We should have a president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/we-shouldn-t-be-debating-whether-to-deal-with-the-current-code-by/)

[Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/)

> [Islam doesn't need reform, we need to reform the Muslim mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/islam-doesn-t-need-reform-we-need-to-reform-the-muslim-mind/)

[Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/)

> [Its time to stop defending a system that is clearly in dire need of reform, stop issuing reports and setting up new roadblocks, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/its-time-to-stop-defending-a-system-that-is-clearly-in-dire-need-of/)

[Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/)

> [We need to reform the political system, or we'll lose the democracy. I don't think it's that hard. It doesn't take rocket science. We've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/we-need-to-reform-the-political-system-or-we-ll-lose-the-democracy-i/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [Let's drive the message home: we need health insurance reform, we need a strong public option, and we won't settle for less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerrold-nadler/let-s-drive-the-message-home-we-need-health-insurance-reform-we-need/)

[Jerrold Nadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerrold-nadler/)

> [It is vitally important that we implement immigration reform. We need a bill that strengthens our borders and protects this nation, but that also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-reichert/it-is-vitally-important-that-we-implement-immigration-reform-we-need/)

[Dave Reichert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-reichert/)

> [We need a new tax system. We need entitlement reform. We need immigration reform. These are not easy things. But it is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/we-need-a-new-tax-system-we-need-entitlement-reform-we-need/)

[Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/)

> [There's a big debate in the U.S. about immigration reform. We need to reflect on who's feeding this country today, why this community has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/there-s-a-big-debate-in-the-u-s-about-immigration-reform-we-need-to/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

## More by Susan Collins

> [Loving isn't liking and it takes liking to live together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/loving-isn-t-liking-and-it-takes-liking-to-live-together/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [“Let the games begin!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/let-the-games-begin/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [I want to help the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/i-want-to-help-the-middle-class/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [I do not think it is going to be constructive to repeal a law that, at this point, is so interwoven in our health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/i-do-not-think-it-is-going-to-be-constructive-to-repeal-a-law-that-at/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [I am a congenital optimist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/i-am-a-congenital-optimist/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [We need to heal this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/we-need-to-heal-this-country/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [Leaders are visionaries. They see the outcome. Leaders are communicators. They tell us what they're seeing. They hold the dream, letting us feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/leaders-are-visionaries-they-see-the-outcome-leaders-are/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [I have, year after year, been named the most bipartisan member of the whole United States Senate. I have proved my independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/i-have-year-after-year-been-named-the-most-bipartisan-member-of-the/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [It is important that we enact immigration reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/it-is-important-that-we-enact-immigration-reform/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [Donald Trump, in my judgment, would make a perilous world even more dangerous. I worry that his tendency to lash out and his ill-informed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/donald-trump-in-my-judgment-would-make-a-perilous-world-even-more/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [We can never fully repay the debt of our proud nation to those who have laid down their lives for our country. The best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/we-can-never-fully-repay-the-debt-of-our-proud-nation-to-those-who/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [John McCain felt very strongly about virtually every issue that he tackled, but it was never based in partisanship. He didn't try to score…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/john-mccain-felt-very-strongly-about-virtually-every-issue-that-he/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [I did work well with Hillary Clinton when she was my colleague in the Senate, and I certainly don't bear her any ill will.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/i-did-work-well-with-hillary-clinton-when-she-was-my-colleague-in-the/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [Taking the time to read to children is not only a worthwhile investment but also a wonderful experience. I have visited 119 schools in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/taking-the-time-to-read-to-children-is-not-only-a-worthwhile/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [I kept hoping that Donald Trump, once he won the primary, would change. I hoped that we would see a new Donald Trump, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/i-kept-hoping-that-donald-trump-once-he-won-the-primary-would-change/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

[Explore all 77 Susan Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

## More Books quotes

> [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/)

[Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/)

> [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/)

[Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/)

> [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/)

[Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/)

[Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/)

> [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/)

[Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/)

> [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/)

Christopher K. Krebs

> [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

> [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/)

[Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/)

> [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/)

[Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/)

> [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/)

Markus Herz

> [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/)

[Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/)

[Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The Medicaid program has been on the books for more than 50 years. The Graham-Cassidy bill proposes a dramatic, sweeping change in the way that program would be allocated and administered. And a program which does need reform, but we need careful reform. And I don't think this bill does that.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Susan Collins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/the-medicaid-program-has-been-on-the-books-for-more-than-50-years-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Books"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/the-medicaid-program-has-been-on-the-books-for-more-than-50-years-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/susan-collins-8729_books_the-medicaid-program-has-been-on-the-boo_906398.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/susan-collins-8729_books_the-medicaid-program-has-been-on-the-boo_906398.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/susan-collins-8729_books_the-medicaid-program-has-been-on-the-boo_906398.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The Medicaid program has been on the books for more than 50 years. The Graham-Cassidy bill proposes a…” — Susan Collins",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Susan Collins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The Medicaid program has been on...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/the-medicaid-program-has-been-on-the-books-for-more-than-50-years-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/the-medicaid-program-has-been-on-the-books-for-more-than-50-years-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
