Democrats Call For HHS To Halt Medicaid Work Requirements They Say Are ‘Designed To Purge People From The Rolls’
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) wrote to the Trump administration, citing the more than 18,000 people who have been kicked off the Medicaid rolls in Arkansas since the state added work requirements. Fifteen states, including Arkansas, have applied for waivers to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients. Eight of those states have gained approval to move forward. Medicaid news comes out of Idaho and Georgia, as well.
CNN:
Top Democrats Rebuke Trump Administration For Medicaid Work Requirement Policies
Top congressional Democrats requested Tuesday that the Department of Health and Human Services halt Medicaid work requirements, citing widespread loss of coverage in Arkansas. The letter, signed by Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey rebukes the administration for "disregard of Congressional intent" and a failure to track the impact of waiver policies. Using Medicaid 1115 waivers, states can receive federal funds for Medicaid expansion despite modifying the policy outlined in the Affordable Care Act. The waivers, however, must be approved by the Department of Health and Human Services. (Bernard, 2/21)
The Hill:
Top Dems Call For End To Medicaid Work Rules After 18,000 Lose Coverage In Arkansas
“We unfortunately are now seeing these concerns play out in real life in the state of Arkansas where thousands of individuals have been forced off and locked out of their Medicaid coverage,” they added in the letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar. Arkansas is the first state to implement work requirements for Medicaid enrollees, and more than 18,000 people were kicked off their coverage last year for failure to comply with the requirements. (Sullivan, 2/21)
The Associated Press:
Little Says He Won't Let The Legislature Leave Town Without Funding Medicaid Expansion
Idaho Gov. Brad Little told the Idaho Press Club on Wednesday that he won’t let the Legislature adjourn this year without funding Medicaid expansion, as required by voter-approved Proposition 2. Asked that question, Little had a one-word answer: “No.” Asked further about various waivers or “sideboards” some lawmakers have been advocating, Little said, “There’s a lot of discussion. … I know that Rep. (John) Vander Woude had 13 items on his list, and I think that list is getting shorter. There’s a big discrepancy between the House ones and the Senate ones; they need to get together. And I’m fairly confident they’re going to get there.” (Russell, 2/21)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Nonprofit Hospitals Back Medicaid Waiver Plan For Georgia
On Wednesday, Democrats stood together in the Capitol to declare their opposition to limited waiver initiatives such as Kemp’s proposal, and to voice their support instead for full Medicaid expansion to all of Georgia’s poor. In doing that, the Democrats have often invoked the plight of the state’s nonprofit hospitals, which bear the financial brunt of caring for the uninsured poor. (Hart, 2/21)
