U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to clarify how states should implement changes to Medicaid following recent Republican-led budget cuts, commonly referred to as "Trumpcare." Merkley serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, while Wyden is Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee.
In a letter addressed to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, the senators highlighted confusion among state leaders regarding which provisions from Biden-era regulations—delayed by nine years under Trumpcare—will remain in effect. They noted that Democrats managed to preserve 15 key policy provisions aimed at making health care more affordable and accessible.
"Trump and Republicans falsely claim their budget bill will be of no consequence for these populations, but the needless delay of these policies proves otherwise. Trumpcare will terminate coverage and increase costs for these communities, while also compromising access to safe, quality care for our nation’s most vulnerable," wrote Merkley and Wyden.
The preserved provisions include measures that prohibit states from imposing annual and lifetime benefit limits on children enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), ensure low-income seniors receive Medicaid coverage for their Medicare Part A premiums, and improve nursing home assessment tools related to staffing levels.
"Thankfully, Senate Democrats successfully preserved select, critical provisions within these rules, such as prohibiting states from imposing annual and lifetime benefit limits for kids in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), ensuring low-income seniors gain Medicaid coverage for their Medicare Part A premiums, and improving assessment and transparency tools nursing homes use to make sure there is sufficient staff," they continued.
The senators urged CMS to provide clear guidance to states so that Americans are not adversely affected by misinformation or confusion beyond what they described as the already significant impact of nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts on families across the country.
The full letter sent by Merkley and Wyden can be accessed online.
