On March 24, APTA joined over a dozen other medical organizations in a letter urging Congress to avoid any cuts to Medicaid in the upcoming Budget Reconciliation package. The letter was sent on behalf of the Patient Access to Responsible Care Alliance, of which APTA is a member, and represents 4 million non-MD/DO Medicare-recognized health and mental health providers.
Addressed to the leaders of the Senate Finance Committee and House Energy & Commerce Committee, Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Reps. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., the letter outlines the concerns that cuts to Medicaid would have to the health care system and the most vulnerable patients. Of particular concern is how the cuts will impact practices that treat Medicaid patients, many of whom live in rural or underserved areas.
Part of the letter reads "If the potential cuts are implemented, it will leave states with difficult choices on how to offset reductions. This could result in states decreasing Medicaid coverage for groups, reducing provider payment rates which are already extremely low, or eliminating ‘optional benefits’ under state Medicaid programs.”
As noted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Congress is considering a variety of options to significantly reduce federal Medicaid spending as an offset to help pay for a potential upcoming budget reconciliation package aimed at taxes. The House recently passed a budget resolution outlining possible cuts to Medicaid totaling up to $880 billion or more over a decade.
APTA members can contact their members of Congress on this issue by going to the APTA Legislative Action Center.