Debbie Dingell: “I support the provision in this bill that extends the welfare program and the related Temporary Medical Assistance (TMA)…”

“I support the provision in this bill that extends the welfare program and the related Temporary Medical Assistance (TMA) program through the end of March. TMA allows families leaving welfare for work to keep their Medicaid insurance coverage. My only question is why my Republican colleagues would extend such an important program for one quarter when it would make much more sense to extend it for one year, two years, or more. Similarly, I support the effort in this bill to prevent payment cuts to physicians in Medicare. However, I regret that the bill does not accomplish nearly enough. We do need to help physicians under Medicare, but we also need to help other providers. Hospitals, home health agencies, and nursing homes are in a similar situation. I hear from my constituents on these issues nearly every day. We cannot turn a blind eye to their problems because, like physicians, their role in caring for Medicare beneficiaries is critical. This bill also neglects to provide States with any Medicaid fiscal relief, which is urgently needed to prevent hundreds of thousands of working Americans from losing their health insurance coverage.”