WASHINGTON, D.C. – Matt Eyles, president and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), issued this statement upon submitting its comments on the proposed Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation (MFAR) from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS):
“For 76 million Americans, Medicaid is an essential part of health care that helps to improve their health and financial security every day. Those served by Medicaid include millions of children, older adults, people with disabilities, and more than 2 million veterans. Health insurance providers are committed to ensuring that Medicaid is effective, affordable, and accountable.
“We recognize and appreciate CMS’ responsibility to protect the fiscal integrity of Medicaid, but we have serious concerns that this proposed rule could undermine the ability of many states to fund their Medicaid programs and inhibit access to care for millions of Americans.
“There is another approach that would ensure Medicaid’s fiscal integrity while ensuring continued access to care for the 1 in 5 Americans who rely on the program. Instead of moving forward with new regulations without a clear and data-driven understanding of the impacts, we ask CMS to modify their proposal and first proceed with a full analysis of state Medicaid funding and payment mechanisms. The stakes are too high for states, Medicaid stakeholders, and especially for the Americans who rely on Medicaid for their coverage and care to implement such significant regulatory changes without fully analyzing and assessing the impact.
“We can work together to ensure that Medicaid works for the people who rely on it, and the hardworking taxpayers who pay for it. We welcome the opportunity to work with CMS on analyzing these and other Medicaid proposals.”