Statement of ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray on Impending Medicare Payment Cuts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 2, 2021

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, (202) 204-7515, jvanness@communityplans.net

STATEMENT OF ACAP CEO MARGARET A. MURRAY ON IMPENDING MEDICARE PAYMENT CUTS

WASHINGTON— Margaret A. Murray, Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) released the following statement on the Medicare sequestration, which, absent action from Congress, will impose a 2 percent cut upon all Medicare providers and plans beginning in January.

“ACAP is concerned that this morning’s continuing resolution text does not address the Medicare payment sequester. Congress must act in a bipartisan way to delay these payment cuts.

“To allow these cuts to go into effect simply because Congress ran out of time threatens to create even more chaos for a health system already stretched thin.

“A 2 percent across-the-board cut would be especially harmful for safety net providers like community health centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers that continue to bear the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID-19 remains a significant drain on resources for our plans and their providers. With a new variant spreading quickly, now is not the time to take action that would threaten plans’ ability to provide the high-quality coverage – and providers’ ability to deliver the high-quality care that all of us desire and deserve.”

About ACAP:

ACAP represents 78 health plans, which collectively provide health coverage to more than 20 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 www.communityplans.net.

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