Statement of ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray on Proposed Public Charge Rule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 24, 2018 
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
 Jeff Van Ness, (202) 204-7515, jvanness@communityplans.net

STATEMENT OF ACAP CEO MARGARET A. MURRAY
ON PROPOSED PUBLIC CHARGE RULE

WASHINGTON—Margaret A. Murray, Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), today made the following statement regarding a proposed regulation that would take use of publicly-funded programs, including Medicaid, into account when considering requests for lawful permanent-resident status:

“We are deeply concerned that the Administration’s reinterpretation of the public charge rule will keep people from seeking the coverage for which they rightly qualify. Ultimately, this may lead to people putting off needed care—and that will help neither taxpayers nor the people Medicaid are designed to serve.

“In the overwhelming majority of cases, undocumented individuals are already ineligible for Medicaid. This rule would largely impact families with members who are citizens or who are lawfully present.

“The rule makes explicit a choice that no family should have to make: Sign up for Medicaid, and a green card will be harder to come by. The proposed rule could discourage eligible individuals from seeking Medicaid coverage, including pregnant women and children, leading to increased uninsurance and ultimately worse health. What do we accomplish by discouraging enrollment in programs that help lawful immigrants stay healthy and productive?

“The rule also notes that the Department of Homeland Security is weighing whether to consider a child’s likelihood to enroll in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) when considering a request for lawful residence. What would we accomplish by putting in place such strong disincentives for parents to seek health coverage for their children?”

About ACAP
ACAP represents 62 Safety Net Health Plans, which provide health coverage to more than 21 million people in 29 states. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.