Rep. Johnson Votes to Stay President Bush's Medicaid/Medicare Cuts

Press Release

Congressman Hank Johnson has joined a bipartisan effort to block a Bush Administration effort to cut Medicaid/Medicare by supporting today's passage of H.R. 5613, which places a one-year moratorium on the affected regulations. Medicaid is the nation's largest provider of children's health insurance and is the primary source of health care for low-income families, the elderly, and disabled. "Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008" passed the Committee on Energy and Commerce by a vote of 46 to 0. The bill is intended to sideline the President's plan to scale back Medicaid provisions over the next 5 years.

"Americans are already straining to pay for health care costs - particularly our seniors, families and disabled citizens. So it makes no sense at all for the federal government to cut funding for the critical Medicaid programs that so many people rely on," said Rep. Johnson. It is estimated that 11.5 percent of Georgia's children are enrolled in Medicaid.

By supporting H.R. 5613, lawmakers hope to continue payments provided to public health institutions; coverage of rehabilitation services for the disabled; specialized medical transportation to school for children; graduate medical education payments; coverage of hospital clinic services; case management services for disabled, independent living; state provider tax laws; and appeals filed through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Rep. Johnson said the bill also contains provisions to address fraud and abuse.

"Congress will pay for this by extending the electronic asset verification for Medicaid applicants and their beneficiaries, and by borrowing from the Physician Assistance and Quality Improvement (PAQI) Fund that is scheduled to be replenished in 2014," said Rep. Johnson. More than two thousand organizations have opposed the President's proposed Medicaid cuts.

Source