WASHINGTON, DC - In a rare move, the Obama Administration today officially backed Energy and Commerce Committee legislation to strengthen Medicaid for the most vulnerable. The announcement comes on the eve of tomorrow’s House vote on important reforms to increase access beyond the emergency room and reduce fraud.
In the Statement of Administration Policy, the Office of Management and Budget formally announced, “The administration supports House passage of H.R. 3716 because it improves program integrity for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)."
H.R. 3716, the Ensuring Access to Quality Medicaid Providers Act, is composed of two Energy and Commerce Committee bills: H.R. 3716, the Ensuring Terminated Providers are Removed from Medicaid and CHIP Act, authored by Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN); and H.R. 3821, the Medicaid DOC Act, authored by Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY).
“It’s not every day that the White House officially backs a Republican-sponsored bill to reform Medicaid. We welcome the administration’s seal of approval for our commonsense reforms to increase access for the most vulnerable and reduce fraud. This bill is an important, bipartisan step forward, and we must continue the momentum to further strengthen this critical lifeline for millions of Americans," said full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI).