CCD Releases Statement on Medicaid Proposals within ACA Repeal

 

The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is gravely concerned about the policy brief that the House Republican leadership shared with its Members on how to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). While many of the policy points are troubling, is is simply unconscionable to use the Medicaid program to pay for the repeal of the ACA, the repeal of corporate and provider taxes, and to provide new tax benefits for individuals. Medicaid provides services and supports that maintain the health, function, independence, and well-being of 10 million enrollees living with disabilities. 

 

Cutting funding and establishing funding caps for the Medicaid program threatens the longstanding Medicaid guarantee for people with disabilities. Per capita cap proposals are designed to dramatically reduce federal support for what is already a lean program, which will force states to cut services and eligibility. This puts the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities at significant risk. For many people with disabilities, being able to access timely needed care is a life or death matter. CCD strongly opposes per capita caps, block grants, and other significant cuts to the Medicaid program. It is unacceptable to pay for the tax cuts that would benefit the wealthies Americans by cutting services for low income individuals with disabilities, adults, older Americans, and children. 

 

The vague policy brief released by House Republican leadership also does not address Americans’ most basic concerns about the future of their health insurance coverage. It does not address how insurance companies will be prevented from discriminating against people with disabilities and/or pre-existing conditions. It does not address how to stop insurance companies from capping health care services or using health status to increase premiums. It does not address how to ensure that millions of health plan members will maintain access to critical health care services such as rehabilitative and habilitative devices and services, prescription drugs, mental health services, and other needed benefits. The ACA created protections that address each of these problems and many more to help people with disabilities gain access to affordable and comprehensive health insurance. The meager solutions in the policy brief that rely on high risk pools and limited tax credits are insufficient to help people with disabilities meet their healthcare needs. 

 

For more information people contact: Nicole Jorwic, The Arc, ([email protected]) or Bethany Lilly, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, ([email protected]).