Senate and House leaders have agreed to a one-year moratorium on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ proposed rule that would cut $4 billion from Medicaid. The moratorium is to be included in the supplemental spending bill headed for Congress this week. Several healthcare organizations, including the American Hospital Association, sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to retain language in the bill that would implement a moratorium on the Medicaid proposed rule and protect graduate medical education payments under Medicaid.
“We firmly believe that the proposed rule would undermine the already fragile viability of the nation’s healthcare safety net and reduce or eliminate access to healthcare services for millions of low-income individuals and to the community at large,” says the letter. “Section 2705 would preserve Congress’ authority over major policy changes to the Medicaid program, to be considered in a deliberate and appropriate manner.”
