Medicaid Commission’s Final Recommendations to Congress

Medicaid Enrollees Would Pay Much Higher Copayments for

Washington, D.C. - The Medicaid Commission met yesterday to vote on recommendations on how Congress should cut $10 billion from the Medicaid program. The following is the statement of Dee Mahan, Deputy Director of Health Policy for Families USA, about the commission’s final recommendations:

“The Medicaid Commission’s recommendations clearly side with the drug industry and are a direct result of industry’s powerful lobbying efforts. Unfortunately, the interests of the 53 million children, seniors, and people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid as their health safety net do not seem to have carried the same weight.

“The commission voted to increase the copayments that Medicaid enrollees must pay for prescription drugs, which could deter low-income people from seeking necessary medical care. In addition, the higher co-payments could quickly add up to substantial costs for people who require multiple medications.

“The Commission’s choice is clear—it chose to put profits over people. What’s more, the abbreviated  time frame for commission deliberations—only five weeks during which the commission met just twice—shows why the commission should be viewed as a rubber stamp for the Administration’s attempts to slash America’s health safety net.” 

###

Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

1201 New York Avenue NW, Suite 1100 · Washington, DC 20005
202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org