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ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray: Medicaid Is the Pillar of Our Health Care System
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 4, 2026
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Marty Johnson, (202) 420-7424; mjohnson@communityplans.net
ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray: Medicaid Is the Pillar of Our Health Care System
WASHINGTON — Margaret A. Murray, CEO of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), issued the following statement following today’s Senate Budget Committee Hearing entitled “Medicaid: The Reality”:
“The reality is that Medicaid is a pillar of our health care system and our social safety net. About 1 in 5 Americans — including children, seniors, and people with disabilities — are covered by Medicaid. It is the single largest source of health coverage in the country.
“Rural hospitals depend on Medicaid reimbursements to serve their communities. The seismic changes brought to the program by H.R. 1 have already led many rural hospitals to announce plans to reduce services or close their doors altogether. This does not just affect the 4 in 10 children who live in small or rural communities and rely on Medicaid for coverage – it affects everyone who lives outside urban and suburban areas.
“We also harbor concerns that the six-month redetermination period, combined with work requirements for Medicaid expansion populations, will do more to churn otherwise-eligible people off the program through bureaucracy. It will not promote program integrity or employment, as previous experience with both have shown.
“Medicaid is integral for hospitals, clinics, community health centers, and other health care organizations to remain open. Medicaid helps preserve necessary services for patients who cannot afford other options for care. Policies that weaken Medicaid’s ability to support providers and patients risk undermining access to care for those who depend on the program most.
“There is undoubtedly room for improvement and reform. But the reality is that the changes will weaken rather than enhance the program. All Americans will be left with the consequences.”
ABOUT ACAP
ACAP represents 92 health plans, which collectively provide health coverage to more than 30 million people. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other publicly-sponsored health programs. For more information, visit communityplans.net.
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