Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

Bill to Delay Harmful Medicaid Regulations on House Floor This Week

Please call your Representative TODAY OR TOMORROW and urge them to vote YES on H.R. 5613 - The Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act - when it is considered by the House of Representatives this week.

The bill would delay the implementation of seven harmful Medicaid regulations through March 2009, including several rules which would be especially harmful to individuals with brain injury. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the bill either tomorrow (Tuesday, April 22) or the next day (Wednesday, April 23).

This week saw major activity occur on H.R. 5613, legislation recently introduced which would place a moratorium until March 2009 on seven Medicaid regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services.  On Wednesday, the bill was unanimously approved by the full House Energy and Commerce Committee, setting up a potential veto showdown with the White House.  BIAA has strongly endorsed this legislation and submitted an official letter of endorsement to the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Dingell (D-MI) and Rep. Murphy (R-PA), last week. Continue Reading »

Negotiations continued this week over an economic stimulus package, as the House passed its version of the bill, which represents a compromise with the Bush Administration. This version does not include increases in Medicaid payments to states, which BIAA strongly supports.

Last week, BIAA signed on to a coalition letter urging House and Senate leaders to temporarily raise Medicaid reimbursement to states in order to prevent states from being forced to make cutbacks in essential state services. Such essential Medicaid services include health care and long-term services and supports, which are often especially important to individuals with disabilities.

As Senate negotiations go forward next week, BIAA will continue advocating for the inclusion of provisions in the stimulus to raise Medicaid reimbursement rates to states.