Gibbs comments on strengthening Medicaid
WASHINGTON, DC – Medicaid beneficiaries will find it easier locating primary care providers if legislation passed by the House this afternoon is enacted into law. In an effort to curb the costs of Medicaid and prevent unnecessary and expensive trips to emergency rooms, today’s vote will require states to create an online directory of primary care providers who accept Medicaid for beneficiaries.
H.R. 3716, the Ensuring Terminated Providers are Removed from Medicaid and CHIP Act, will also root out fraud and abuse by requiring states to report care providers who have been terminated from participating in Medicaid. An Inspector General report found some providers who were removed from a state’s Medicaid program for fraud or illegal activity were still participating in other states’ program. By creating a database to which states can report excluded providers, participation in Medicaid can be excluded in other states. This will strengthen Medicaid’s efficiency and make the program more cost effective.
After the vote, Congressman Bob Gibbs released the following statement:
“These programs are important and provide lifesaving services for those who need them, but unfortunately Medicaid and other mandatory spending are spiraling out of control. The bill the House passed today strengthens Medicaid by lowering costs and making sure providers who break the law in one state cannot continue participating in Medicaid in another. Reforms like this will shore up a vital service, shift patients away from costly emergency rooms to primary care providers and make it easier for states to administer Medicaid in a cost-effective way.”
Category: Government
