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  • Washington Highlights

    AAMC President and CEO Sends Medicaid Letter to Republican Finance Committee Chair

    Len Marquez, Senior Director, Government Relations

    Senate Finance Committee Republicans Jan. 19 hosted a Medicaid roundtable with several Republican governors. In preparation for that meeting, AAMC President and CEO Darrel G. Kirch, MD, Jan. 18 sent a letter to Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) regarding the importance of the Medicaid program to beneficiaries and safety net providers.

    In the letter, Dr. Kirch expressed AAMC’s appreciation for Senate Finance Committee Republicans’ interest “in soliciting input from Republican governors on how to best incorporate additional flexibility and innovation into the Medicaid program.” Dr. Kirch also reiterated AAMC’s “commitment to informing policies that address opportunities and challenges in our health care system, and to ensuring that all individuals receive the comprehensive insurance coverage and high-quality care they need.”

    At the same time, the letter also urges Congress to adhere to several principles as it discusses potential changes to the Medicaid program, including:

    • Maintaining the ACA’s Medicaid expansion;

    • Maintaining its commitment to the states and Medicaid beneficiaries, without limits, caps, or block grants;

    • Ensuring that Medicaid beneficiaries have access to high-quality care by maintaining and enforcing network adequacy requirements and ensuring sufficient payments to providers;

    • Delaying the scheduled Medicaid DSH payment reductions; and

    • Permanently reauthorizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

    Dr. Kirch also noted AAMC-members’ commitment to implement delivery reforms that reduce the growth in underlying health care costs.