Raúl Grijalva: “Over the past year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, have introduced a series of Medicaid…”

“Over the past year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, have introduced a series of Medicaid regulations that have caused grave concern to our States and beneficiaries. States are struggling as the economy sinks into recession, and these proposed regulations, if not suspended, will add billions in Medicaid costs to our States at a time when their tax revenues are falling and Medicaid caseloads are growing. The seven regulations issued by CMS erode the foundation of the Medicaid system by preventing beneficiaries from accessing the care they need. These proposed regulations would endanger access to care by severely limiting payments to public hospitals, eliminate coverage for outpatient services that keep beneficiaries from unnecessary emergency room use, and by restricting support for transportation services for children with disabilities. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chairman Dingell for his superb leadership on this issue and for introducing and garnering bipartisan support for this unfortunate but very necessary moratorium. This important legislation will help protect beneficiaries from harmful cuts and alleviate the immediate concerns that the Medicaid regulations cause for long term care patients, residents and providers alike. The bill also establishes an independent review of these regulations prior to the expiration of the moratorium next year.”