Abbott, Fellow Governors Urge Biden: 'Reconsider & Immediately Disavow New Policies that Devastate Medicaid Safety Net for Elderly & Disabled'

As Governors, we remain committed to protecting state flexibility in Medicaid financing, which assures our ability to continue offering high quality healthcare.”

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – "We urge you to reconsider, and immediately disavow, policies included in a final Informational Bulletin and a proposed rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that would devastate the Medicaid safety net for Elderly & Disabled Adults, pregnant women, and millions of children in our states and across the country,” said Governor Greg Abbott, joining with the governors of seven other states to urge President Biden to reverse his concerning policies that would strip millions of Americans from access to crucial healthcare – and harm critical healthcare systems serving our nation's most vulnerable citizens.  

 
“If CMS nevertheless forges ahead and implements these policies, Medicaid funding could be reduced by $48 billion each year, impacting 49 states that rely on provider taxes to bolster their Medicaid programs.

"Such reductions would harm critical healthcare systems serving our most vulnerable citizens, exacerbating disparities in care,” the governors told Mr. Biden.
 

"As Governors, we remain committed to protecting state flexibility in Medicaid financing, which assures our ability to continue offering high quality healthcare.”

 
CMS is the federal agency that provides health coverage to more than 160 million through Medicare, Medicaid, the CHIPS "Children's Health Insurance Program," and the Health Insurance Marketplace.

CMS works in partnership with the entire Health Care Community to improve quality, equity and outcomes in the nation's health care system.

The other Governors joining Gov. Abbott in sending the letter to President Biden earlier this week were: