NE Washington News

House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) opened a subcommittee hearing on legislative proposals to enhance Medicaid access and improve program integrity by addressing key challenges facing the program. Guthrie highlighted the importance of Medicaid, which covers over 75 million Americans and is expected to see a significant increase in federal spending in the coming years.

Guthrie emphasized the need for program integrity to protect against improper payments in the Medicaid system. He referenced the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General's acknowledgment of the pressing need to prioritize program integrity to prevent improper payments, which totaled over $50 billion in the previous fiscal year.

The Chair expressed concerns about the impact of new regulations imposed by CMS, particularly the nursing home Minimum Staffing Rule and the Medicaid Access Rule. He warned that these rules could threaten patient access to care by setting arbitrary staffing and pay standards, potentially leading to decreased services for beneficiaries.

Guthrie proposed bipartisan solutions to address workforce challenges in Medicaid, including supporting bills like H.R. 7513 and H.R. 8114 to block harmful regulations. He also highlighted the importance of proactive measures, such as his own bill, H.R. 468, the Building America’s Healthcare Workforce Act, aimed at addressing critical shortages in the healthcare workforce.

In conclusion, Guthrie called for collaboration among colleagues to find constructive solutions to support long-term care and reduce program integrity issues in the Medicaid program. The subcommittee aims to address these challenges through bipartisan efforts and legislation that prioritize the well-being of Medicaid beneficiaries and the integrity of the program.