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Statement on Proposed Reconciliation Package
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, August 2, 2022
CONTACT: Sara Matthews, (281) 650-2961, SMatthews@MessagePartnersPR.com
STATEMENT ON PROPOSED RECONCILIATION PACKAGE
Today, a group of seven organizations issued the following statement regarding the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Senate’s proposed reconciliation package released last week.
“We are grateful that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes critical policies that will help Americans afford health coverage and care, including the extension of enhanced premium tax credits and coverage of vaccines for all adults covered by Medicaid. We also urge Congress to take steps to provide low-income individuals with the consistent, high-quality care they deserve. Congress should include the following policies that promote the health and wellbeing of our most underserved communities, including pregnant people, children, and incarcerated individuals, all of whom are experiencing glaring gaps in coverage that are detrimental to their health.
- 12-Month Medicaid and CHIP continuous eligibility for children, which will reduce gaps in care and increase consistency in coverage for children.
- 12-Month Medicaid and CHIP postpartum coverage, which will increase access to critical health care services for postpartum individuals and ameliorate the ongoing maternal morbidity and mortality crisis.
- Permanent CHIP funding, which will provide stable funding for CHIP in the future and reduce uncertainty for families about CHIP coverage.
- The Medicaid Reentry Act, which will allow eligible incarcerated individuals to receive services covered by Medicaid 30 days prior to release from jail or prison, ensuring streamlined coverage, improving health outcomes, and reducing community costs.
These Medicaid and CHIP policies provide Congress with low-cost and effective solutions to serious challenges currently facing our nation’s health care system. Collectively, along with a fix to the Medicaid coverage gap, these policies will reduce inequities in coverage and increase access to important health care services to keep Americans healthy.”
This statement is issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Association for Community Affiliated Plans, Children’s Hospital Association, Community Catalyst, Families USA, First Focus Campaign for Children, and National Alliance on Mental Illness.
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About the Association for Community Affiliated Plans:
The Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) is a national trade association which represents 74 not-for-profit Safety Net Health Plans. Collectively, ACAP plans serve more than twenty-two million enrollees. For more information, visit communityplans.net.